In today's competitive globalised business environment, production cost cutting is a primary issue before operation managers. As a research area, green lean six sigma (GLS) is proposed to have ...strategic importance in product development towards cutting costs, contributing to optimisation, and achieving sustainability. This research requirement has been realised to draw benefits out of three recent and involved approaches (green, lean and six sigma). In this research, an attempt has been made to address barriers in GLS product development (GLSPD) from an extensive literature review and from experts' opinions towards developing a hierarchical model structuring these barriers. Twenty-one barriers have been identified and sorted from the review of literature and were then validated through discussions with experts. Relationships (contextual in nature) among these barriers have been realised during a brainstorming session. An interpretive structural modelling (ISM) technique has been utilised for developing a hierarchical model of barriers in implementing the GLSPD process in the automobile sector of India. A nine-level structural model has been deduced after application of the ISM technique, which shows 'Competition and Uncertainty' as the topmost output of the model and 'Lack of Total Top Management Commitment' as the bottom-level input to other barriers of the model. Further, MICMAC analysis has been also done to classify these barriers for better understanding; seven barriers are identified as driver barriers, nine as dependent, five barriers as linkage and no barrier as autonomous. An analysis of interdependence and interactions among these barriers may help supply chain managers reach a better understanding of barriers. Thus, managers may be helped in prioritising and managing barriers in order to gain a competitive advantage from GLS concept implementation in product development.
Purpose
The academic literature and research lines exploring the effect of quality improvement methods on environmental performance still remain in early stages. The purpose of this paper is ...therefore to investigate, through a systematic review of the existing academic literature, the environmental (green) impact of using quality and operations improvement methods such as Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma. This includes the impact on energy saving and the usage of natural resources.
Design/methodology/approach
This study follows a systematic literature review approach through which it analyses research papers published in top 16 operations and quality management journals. No specific time frame was established, but a set of keywords were used to short-list the articles. A sample of 70 articles was finally short-listed and analysed to provide a discussion on environmental concerns related to Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma.
Findings
The comprehensive review of short-listed articles indicates that both Lean and Six Sigma can be considered effective methods to support the conservation of resources, combat global warming and saving energy. Various scholars provide evidence of this, and as such, organisations should not only consider these methods to manage quality and improve operational performance but also meet environmental regulations. A set of research questions that demands further investigation has also been proposed based on the findings of this research.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited to a sample of 70 articles collected from top 16 operations and quality management journals. The search of journals is also limited to a set of key words (“Lean”, “Green”, “Six Sigma”, “environment”, “sustainable” and “sustainability”) used to short-list the sample size.
Practical implications
The study shows that organisations can consider the adoption of Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma to meet environmental regulations, save costs and also meet quality management standards. This will contribute in helping organisations to formulate more effective and inclusive strategies which do not only consider the quality and operational dimensions but also the environmental dimension.
Originality/value
Literature exploring the environmental/green impact of quality management methods commonly used in industry is limited. There is also a lack of studies aiming to investigate the green impact of Lean and Six Sigma in top operations and quality management journals. The study focusing on investigating the green impact of Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma methods altogether is also a research first of its kind.
The sustainable oriented demand, globalized competition, and governmental policies on climate change have enforced the industries to adopt sustainable practices. Green Lean Six Sigma (GLS) is an ...eco-friendly approach that mitigates carbon footprints and produces high specifications products. But to implement the GLS program, it is indispensable to integrate individual Green, Lean, and Six Sigma approaches in unique GLS methodology. Moreover, there exists no GLS framework that can be applied irrespective of the size, type, and culture of the organization. So, the present work deals with the integration and development of the GLS framework. The integration of the GLS was proposed based on theoretical elements, and the framework was developed based on DMAIC approach. It has found that enablers, toolset, and implementation methods supplement the integration of GLS. The proposed framework provides a path for GLS implementation through an appropriate selection of the project. Besides, it has identified that unique GLS indices and toolset are required to estimate various sustainability measures and execute selected GLS projects. The present study will facilitate the organizations to have readiness for the implementation of a sustainable GLS approach through a detailed understanding of integration and GLS framework.
•The integration of GLS is proposed through common characteristics.•Integration of Green Lean Six Sigma (GLS) is area of exploration in research.•GLS framework is realized through Six Sigma DMAIC approach.•Inclusion of Lean and Green concepts with each DMAIC phase is demonstrated.
Lean Six Sigma enables contemporary manufacturing organizations to attain waste elimination and defect reduction. As manufacturing systems are becoming environmentally sustainable, Lean Six Sigma ...framework needs to be integrated with sustainability tools to enable environmental and operational benefits. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on Lean Six Sigma from six different perspectives pertaining to manufacturing firms. A qualitative type of review methodology was adopted for conducting the review. Research articles related to the topic were collected from leading journal databases. Further, literature analysis was also performed on Lean Six Sigma with environmental focus. A total of 70 research articles that are in line with the research were selected and reviewed. Based on the insights obtained from analysis, a generic framework for implementation of Lean Six Sigma with environmentally benign tools was developed. The developed framework incorporates environmental aspects while implementing Lean Six Sigma which helps in reducing cost, wastes, environmental impacts, and other inefficiencies associated with the manufacturing process. This review article highlights the insights on Lean Six Sigma by conducting a systematic review pertaining to manufacturing firms and development of a generic framework that incorporates environmental focus into the Lean Six Sigma framework. This article enables researchers in developing knowledge on the concept of Lean Six Sigma with environmental focus and also helps them to formulate and implement Lean Six Sigma concepts to attain operational and environmental benefits.
Purpose The 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/approach A 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. Findings The 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/implications The 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 implications The 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 implications The 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/value GLSS 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.
A low success rate of improvement projects is one of the causes of the discontinuity of lean six sigma (LSS) initiatives in companies. It is essential to identify and evaluate the reasons why LSS ...improvement projects fail in order to enable LSS, Lean, and six sigma sustainability. This article presents the findings from a global survey conducted with 201 LSS experts around the world in both the service and manufacturing sectors. The results of this article point out the significant failure rates for LSS projects and alert that projects had higher termination rates in the measure and analyze phases define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC). Failures occur primarily at the corporate level. The main causes of project failures identified were the lack of commitment by top management, resistance to change, inadequate rewards and recognition mechanisms, inconsistent monitoring and control of the projects, and poor communication. This article shows that there are some minor differences in terms of ranking of these factors between the manufacturing and service sectors, but there is a significant difference in terms of continent and belt level (master black belts, black belts, and green belts).
The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on empirical research in Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma in healthcare. The approach for the critical review of the 118 papers found ...is based on the empirical research approach given by Flynn, Sakakibara, Schroeder, Bates, and Flynn (Empirical research methods in operations management. Journal of Operations Management, 9(2), 250-284). It is concluded from the analysis of the results that the number of empirical research articles in Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma in healthcare is increasing in a very fast way. Despite this fact, it is still needed studies describing: (i) how to create a continuous improvement culture in practice; (ii) the main aspects and lessons learned on how to sustain the improvements implemented and (iii) the specific barriers for conducting improvements in the healthcare sector. To the best knowledge of the authors, this paper is the first to attempt to critically review the empirical research articles in Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma in healthcare.
Manufacturing and service organisations improve their processes on a continuous basis to have better operational performance. They use lean six sigma (LSS) projects for process improvement. ...Therefore, this study aims to investigate the existing literature in LSS and the application of big data analytics (BDA) to have more confident and predictable decisions in each phase of LSS. Fifty-two articles have been identified after a careful and vigilant screening of closely related themes. Future research directions in the big data and LSS have been highlighted on the basis of organisational theories. Review presents an investigation framework consisting of BDA techniques applicable to each phase of LSS in all the dimensions such as volume, variety, velocity and veracity of big data. Review highlights the concerns of big data in LSS such as system design and integration, system performance, security and reliability of data, sustaining the control and conducting the experiments, distributed material and information flow. The review unveils the application of 8 modern organisational theories to big data in LSS with 21 key aspects of related theories and 19 distinct research gaps as opportunities for future research.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the existing literature on the critical success factors (CSFs) of various continuous improvement (CI) like total quality management (TQM), Lean, Six ...Sigma and Lean Six Sigma (LSS), and perform a content analysis (CA) leading to an agenda for future research.
Design/methodology/approach
CA is based on literature review of 41 papers published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals. A four-stage methodology is used by the authors, with Stage 1 featuring relevant material collection; Stage 2 presenting a descriptive analysis; Stage 3 outlining the category selection; and Stage 4 featuring the material evaluation using clustering and Pareto analysis.
Findings
The CA revealed various research implications and directions for the future. The number of studies in the literature regarding CSF assessment is found to be far from substantial while compared to CI implementation. Assessment methodologies developed have been ranging from qualitative to quantitative models. Key gaps were identified and directions for CSF assessment are proposed which requires further validation.
Research limitations/implications
Only articles that appeared in peer-reviewed journals were analyzed; conference papers, reports, manuals and white papers from practice were excluded. Another limitation of the paper would be the scope of CA limited to four CI constructs – TQM, Lean, Six Sigma and LSS. Research implications indicate that the future studies in this domain would be intensive toward analyzing the vital CSFs for enterprise organizational excellence and not merely process excellence.
Practical implications
This review study can serve as a resource for both researchers and practitioners to understand the importance of CSFs and positioning CSFs for the successful implementation of CI programs.
Originality/value
The CA on the existing literature on CSFs for CI presents a unique, systematic effort to identify an agenda for future research. This study is the apparently the first of its kind on CSF assessment.
The food industry is an important sector of the world economy, that faces many challenges providing a wide range of products with short delivery times and at low-cost. Continuous Improvement (CI) ...initiatives could assist this industry manage its challenges as the global market endures economic and political crises. Lean and Six Sigma are two widely used and recognized CI initiatives and are often hybridized as Lean Six Sigma. However, it is not clear how appropriate these strategies are for the food industry.
A systematic literature review was performed to identify the appropriateness of Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma initiatives (L&SSi) for improvement in the food industry. The aim is to consolidate the existing knowledge about the application of L&SSi in the food industry, analyze the L&SSi evolution within the sector and identify the relevant aspects of implementation such as drivers of adoption, critical success factors, tools and methods applied, barriers faced and benefits obtained.
The review suggests that L&SSi are effective in the food industry context. Their implementation in the sector is still growing. Their use was found to reduce costs and increase productivity. Human factors and the food industry characteristics were identified as the main barriers to implementing these initiatives. Future research to investigate the degree that L&SSi practices were adopted in the food industry and to identify the best practices to implement these initiatives is suggested.
•Food industry adopts Lean & Six Sigma initiatives mainly to increase productivity and to reduce costs and inventory.•There is a great opportunity for Food Industry to improve their performance by implementing Lean & Six Sigma initiatives.•The food industry characteristics and human factors impact the adoption of some Lean & Six Sigma tools and methods.
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