PPM (Parts Per Million)
Parts Per Million (PPM) translates defect counts into a normalised scale, making it easy to compare performance across product lines and suppliers.
Calculating PPM
PPM is calculated by dividing the number of defects by the total units produced and multiplying by one million. The metric helps teams benchmark performance across different lot sizes.
Using PPM to drive improvement
Tracking PPM trends reveals whether corrective actions are working. Suppliers often report rolling 12-month PPM to buyers to demonstrate sustained improvement.
Falling PPM after CAPA initiatives is evidence that process changes are effective.
Visualising PPM in KaizenQ
KaizenQ aggregates defect data from every inspection, allowing stakeholders to filter PPM results by product, supplier, or inspection type. Trends update automatically as new reports are submitted.
- PPM enables apples-to-apples comparison of defect rates.
- Sustained reductions indicate effective corrective and preventive actions.
- Dashboards in KaizenQ keep leadership informed without spreadsheets.