Who is often referred to as the father of Six Sigma?

The designation of the "father of Six Sigma" typically refers to Dr. W. Edwards Deming. His work in quality management and statistical process control laid the foundational principles on which Six Sigma is built. He introduced concepts like the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and emphasized the importance of statistical methods in quality improvement, which are integral to the Six Sigma methodology.

Dr. Joseph Juran also contributed significantly to quality management and improvement concepts but is known more for his work on quality control and the cost of quality rather than being labeled the father of Six Sigma.

Dr. Philip Crosby is known for his work on quality management as well, particularly in the area of "zero defects," but he is not specifically recognized as the founder of Six Sigma.

Dr. Harry Markowitz, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, made contributions to portfolio theory in finance and has no direct association with the principles of Six Sigma.

Understanding the contributions of these key figures highlights the roots of Six Sigma in statistical quality management and provides a clearer context for why Dr. W. Edwards Deming is often celebrated as its father.