The sigma level indicates the degree of performance of a business or manufacturing process. For ship equipment, we can translate it as equipment and system performance: the higher the equipment availability, the higher is the sigma level. A defect is equipment or system unavailability. In statistical terms, we want to reduce equipment performance variability caused by failures to lessen the risk associated with equipment or system malfunction. In other words, equipment and system availability during ship operation relative to set specifications defines the sigma level at which the equipment or system operates. The availability number is then scaled up to the equivalent of a million opportunities. For example, if a system consists of parts which have a high probability of failure, it easy to conclude that the system sigma level is low and that work needs to be done to improve the reliability of the system. If a system is critical to ship operation and its failure may cause safety hazards, shipping companies need to bring that system to the Six Sigma level to avoid disasters and failures to complete the intended mission of the ship. Furthermore, ship owners/operators need to collect quality data to support maintenance planning and avoid drydock project budget overruns identified as growth work.