What does the term 'vital few' refer to in Six Sigma?

The term 'vital few' in Six Sigma refers to the few factors that have the most significant impact on process performance. This concept is rooted in the Pareto Principle, which suggests that a small number of causes often lead to the majority of problems or effects in a process. In the context of Six Sigma, identifying and focusing on these vital few factors enables teams to prioritize their efforts effectively and allocate resources where they will have the greatest effect on performance improvement.

By concentrating on these critical inputs, teams can more easily drive meaningful changes, reduce defects, and improve overall process efficiency. This targeted approach helps ensure that improvement efforts yield the highest possible return on investment and address the most pressing issues impacting quality and performance.