PurposeThe study aims to identify Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) barriers in the context of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and prioritize them for executing the GLSS ...approach.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review (SLR) was used to identify a total of 14 barriers, which were then verified for greater relevance by the professional judgments of industrial personnel. Moreover, many removal measures strategies are also recommended in this study. Furthermore, this work also utilizes Gray Relational Analysis (GRA) to prioritize the identified GLSS barriers.FindingsThe study reveals that training and education, continuous assessment of SDG, organizational culture, resources and skills to facilitate implementation, and assessment of satisfaction and welfare of the employee are the most significant barriers to implementing this approach.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study provides an impetus for practitioners and managers to embrace the GLSS strategy through a wide-ranging understanding and exploring these barriers. In this case, the outcomes of this research, and in particular the GRA technique presented by this work, can be used by managers and professionals to rank the GLSS barriers and take appropriate action to eliminate them.Practical implicationsThe ranking of GLSS barriers gives top officials of HEIs a very clear view to effectively and efficiently implementing GLSS initiatives. The outcomes also show training and education, sustainable development goals and organizational culture as critical barriers. The findings of this study provide an impetus for managers, policymakers and consultants to embrace the GLSS strategy through a wide-ranging understanding and exploring these barriers.Social implicationsThe GLSS barriers in HEIs may significantly affect the society. HEIs can lessen their environmental effect by using GLSS practices, which can support sustainability initiatives and foster social responsibility. Taking steps to reduce environmental effect can benefit society as a whole. GLSS techniques in HEIs can also result in increased operational effectiveness and cost savings, which can free up resources to be employed in other areas, like boosting student services and improving educational programs. However, failing to implement GLSS procedures in HEIs could have societal repercussions as well. As a result, it is critical for HEIs to identify and remove GLSS barriers in order to advance sustainability, social responsibility and operational effectiveness.Originality/valueGLSS is a comprehensive methodology that facilitates the optimum utilization of resources, reduces waste and provides the pathway for sustainable development so, the novelty of this study stands in the inclusion of its barriers and HEIs to prioritize them for effective implementation.
Stratified sampling, a widely-applicable probabilistic technique, is especially suited for large and heterogeneously distributed populations. This paper studies optimal allocation of sampling units ...to minimize variances and cost. Given that not all strata hold equal importance in survey projects, we propose a hierarchical multi-level programming model for compromise allocation in stratified sampling. The model considers multiple objectives across hierarchical levels and addresses the issue of non-response by dividing strata into respondent and non-respondent groups. The survey budget restriction is considered as a constraint in our model. We employ a fuzzy concept-based solution methodology to solve the multi-level allocation problem. A literature-based numerical example describes the model’s applicability and efficiency. Comparative analysis shows our model’s superior efficiency over existing models due to its optimization of allocation across varied strata, non-response consideration, and budget constraint integration. The proposed model promotes flexibility, enhancing representativeness and cost-effectiveness of large-scale surveys, thereby improving decision-making in research and industry settings.
PurposeDespite extensive research on Lean Six Sigma (LSS), it predominantly remains focussed on organisational aspects. Individual perceptions were often sidelined. Comparative studies about ...different perspectives of LSS from the point of view of top management, consultants and employees are unavailable. This paper captures the opinions of these stakeholders about different dimensions of LSS and presents the comparison.Design/methodology/approachUsing empirical research, opinion is captured of three LSS stakeholder categories: top management/business owners, facilitators/consultants and practising managers/employees. Their opinions about 15 different perspectives of LSS, including its future in the Industry 4.0/Quality 4.0 era, are evaluated in this study under 95 variables (decision aspects). Comparison among the opinions of these stakeholders is performed using chi-square hypothesis testing and ANOVA (analysis of variance) methods.FindingsIn a total of 95 comparisons, a statistically significant difference among different stakeholders' views is observed in 62 cases. In 33 cases, the opinions of the three stakeholder groups can be considered in agreement with one another.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings will help different LSS stakeholder groups better understand the expectations of other groups. During LSS implementation, it will help in aligning priorities and achieving success. Theoretically, it will help in narrowing the research gap about the rarity of comparing views of multiple stakeholder groups.Originality/valueThe comparison among views of three critical LSS stakeholder groups – top management/business owners, facilitators/consultants and managers/employees, is currently unavailable, and therefore, this research provides a fresh perspective to an otherwise extensively researched theme. It is immensely helpful in preventing LSS failures arising from misaligned stakeholder views and expectations.
PurposeNew product development (NPD) is necessary for business sustenance and customer satisfaction. Six Sigma and Design for Lean Six Sigma (DLSS) efficiently employ the repetitive stages for NPD, ...leading to quality performance and profitability. This study aims to map the quality performance through NPD attributes through the Lean methodology.Design/methodology/approachThe data on NPD were collected from 267 respondents from manufacturing companies to map the relationship between Six Sigma and DLSS for NPD. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to confirm model fit, while structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the empirical data for framework testing. The study included nine variables and fourteen hypotheses identified from the literature.FindingsThe statistical results of this study show that NPD attributes such as innovation, marketing, organization, customer, product and technology positively influence the Lean Six Sigma structured improvement process (LSSSIP) and DLSS. Moreover, integrating these attributes in Lean planning enhance quality performance. This empirical investigation's findings indicate that ten of the 14 hypotheses were supported, giving the study a strong foundation.Research limitations/implicationsThe data collection was limited to northern India; therefore, the results may not be generalizable to other areas of the world.Practical implicationsNPD involves handling technical issues and factors such as cost, operational bottlenecks, economic changes, competitors' strategy and company policy. This study helps understand the various NPD parameters and their relationship to Lean, which enables an effective NPD implementation strategy.Originality/valueThe current philosophy of NPD calls for a concurrent engineering approach; therefore, the entire organization must be part of this process. This study uses the holistic framework by optimizing NPD with Lean Six Sigma (LSS) principles. The study is unique in that, to date, research does not integrate NPD attributes with the objectives of LSS to develop an efficient NPD implementation strategy.
PurposeThe purpose of this study is to establish empirical relationships between patient flow problems, healthcare service quality and patient satisfaction with emergency department (ED) service ...factors from the patient perspective.Design/methodology/approachIn the overall study, of which the current investigation is a part, a mixed-method research approach was to achieve the research objectives. The results reported in this paper are based on a comprehensive questionnaire survey where a well-designed and reliable questionnaire was used to survey ED patients. This study conducted partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) by using Smart PLS software.FindingsResults show that the respondents mostly agreed with the proposed concept of quality in ED and patients were less satisfied with ED services in general and with the internal and external environments in ED in particular. It was found that relationships between nine identified scales of patient flow problems, healthcare service quality, and patient satisfaction are significant. The findings reveal that the relationship between patient flow problems and patient satisfaction is positively mediated through healthcare service quality, which shows the predictive capability of the model, indicating high predictive relevance.Research limitations/implicationsThis research involves a relatively small sample from a single case study. The positive relationship between patient flow problems and patient satisfaction indicate practical significance of the model for guiding to improve overall patient satisfaction.Originality/valueThis research, through the involvement of both hospital staff and the patient, brings out a holistic approach in terms of operational excellence in a critical unit such as the ED. The empirically established relationships form the benchmarking and guide for developing guidelines for designing policies for service improvements of ED practices.
When monitoring manufacturing processes, managing an attribute quality characteristic is easier and faster than a variable quality characteristic. Yet, the economic-statistical design of attribute ...control charts has attracted much less attention than variable control charts in the literature. This study develops an algorithm for optimizing the economic-statistical performance of the np chart for monitoring defectives, based on Duncan's economic model. This algorithm has the merit of the economic model to minimize expected total cost, and the benefit of the statistical design to enhance the effectiveness of detecting increasing shifts in defectives. The effectiveness of the developed np chart is investigated under different operational scenarios. The results affirm a considerable superiority of the proposed np chart over the traditional np chart. Real-life data are used to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed np scheme, in comparison to the traditional np chart.
Autonomous driving is the future trend when it comes to the age of 5G at the end of 21st century, and vehicle navigation is the indispensable key technology. The companies with car navigation ...software and hardware business are facing fierce competition. Business operators must know the company's position and role in the industry, in order to adopt strategies to respond. In this study, two indicators are investigated using the social network analysis technics such as technological redundancy and network centrality in patent citation network (PCN). It is understood that technological redundancy is determined by technology knowledge status (TKS) as well as technology knowledge reliability (TKR). There are also four types of social network centrality: degree centrality, eigenvector centrality, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality. In this study, an analysis of the technical position and role of individual companies in the industry will be presented by using the two indicators and the primary components. Moreover, technological redundancy is used to study the technical position and role of a company's unitary patent capability in the industry. This will reinforce the company's understanding, and then take strategies. By using this model, the study can effectively identify the technical position and role of the company and its unitary patent capability. Furthermore, the study also shows that based on this model, there is a total of three companies where positions and roles are as leading status in the vehicle navigation industry, i.e. Tomtom map company, Alpine and Asin AW two electronic companies. In addition, companies with unique technologies, such as Sirius Xm Radio, etc. can use their role and position to conduct merger and acquisition, collaboration, and alliance strategies.
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The six-sigma methodology has been adopted by the industry as a business management tool to improve operational capabilities and reduce defects in any process. This study aims to present a case study ...on the implementation of the Six-Sigma DMAIC methodology with the purpose to reduce the rejection rate of rubber weather strips manufactured by XYZ Ltd. (name changed) situated in Gurugram, India. Weather strips are used in all four doors of cars for noise reduction, waterproofing, dust proofing, soundproofing, windproofing, and for improving air conditioning cooling, and heating effects. The overall rejection rate of both front and rear door rubber weather strips was 5.5% which was causing a huge loss to the company. The average rejection rate of rubber weather strips per day reduced from 5.5% to 3.08%. After implementing the Six-Sigma project findings the rejection was reduced from 153 pieces to 68 pieces helped the industry in saving the cost of a compound by Rs. 15,249 per month. The sigma level improved from 3.9 to 4.45 within three months with the implementation of one Six-Sigma project solution. The company was highly concerned about reducing the high rejection rate of rubber weather strips and decided to deploy Six Sigma DMAIC as a quality improvement tool. The industry was keen to reduce this high rejection rate to 2% and this target was materialized with the application of the Six-Sigma DMAIC methodology. The novelty of this study is to analyze performance improvement considering the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology to reduce the rejection rate of rubber weather strip manufacturing companies.
PurposeThis study aims to identify key supply chain challenges and opportunities of the case of Hong Kong toy manufacturing company during the COVID-19 outbreak and develop a comprehensive structural ...relationship to rank them.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, a toy model company in Hong Kong is considered to discuss about what challenges and opportunities have the biggest impacts on non-necessary goods companies and how to deal with different impacts on entire supply chain flow disruption during COVID-19. A semi-structured interview with five decision-makers from the company was made to give key challenges and opportunities scores. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) technique is used to establish the model and rank them afterward to overcome the challenges.FindingsFrom the data analysis and results, “salary of employee” and “inconvenient transportation” have emerged as top and bottom key challenges respectively. The sequence of organized challenges in the list needs to mitigate one by one in this order to improve the supply chain performance. The “client's orders’ frequency, customer management” and “supplier/partner relationship management” are identified as the top and bottom respectively to develop the opportunities.Research limitations/implicationsThese key challenges and opportunities are identified as contributing attributes and provide the way to measure to improve production, profits and sustainable growth of the toy manufacturing company during a pandemic. Moreover, it helps to improve the distribution level and good planning with appropriate decision making to manage the supply chain performance considering humanitarian aspects during a pandemic outbreak.Originality/valueThe novelty of this study is to identify the key supply chain challenges and opportunities measured by the TOPSIS method to rank them and consider the case of a Hong Kong toy manufacturing company as a case-based approach to measuring its performance during the COVID-19 outbreak.
This study presents an integrated lean methodology for improving patient flow by identifying root causes of patient flow problems and proposing a lean patient flow process in emergency departments ...(EDs). The methodology combines the 'voice of process', the 'voice of customers' and the 'voice of staff' to identify non-value-added activities in the ED process. This integration was used to model, evaluate and improve work and process flow in the hospital's ED. The current activities were analysed using process mapping and the A3 problem-solving sheet as visual tools to identify sources of waste. Aseer Central Hospital in Saudi Arabia was selected as the organisational case for this research. The study identified several critical areas of waste that significantly affect patient flow in the ED. The investigation reveals that these wastes were mainly related to the quality management, ED facilities, patients, physicians, nurses, administration, data/information and uncertainty/changes to work schedules in treatment. Based on the identified wastes, recommendations are made to design a lean process flow by eliminating root causes of overcrowding and waste in EDs. The proposed process model links key areas associated with the root causes of patient flow problem and highlighting critical areas that need improvement.
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