Showing papers on "Lean Six Sigma published in 2019"

A structured review of Lean Six Sigma in various industrial sectors

Abstract: The purpose of present study is to expose the detailed review for benefits and challenges about implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in business organization and spread of LSS literature in term of various sectors wise, research methodology wise and journal wise.,This paper covers the literature on LSS from 2000 to 2018. The authors have selected a large number of research papers using the keywords as Lean Six Sigma implementation in automotive, micro small medium enterprises, health care, education, financial sectors and many more. A total of 216 research papers have been reviewed on LSS distribution of sector wise, research methodology adopted, active countries, year of publication and critical barriers in implementation of LSS.,The present literature classifies the spread of LSS in four important sectors of manufacturing, health care, human resource, financial and education. It presents the critical barriers and benefits of LSS implementation in various sectors mentioned above and an important research gap, where practitioner/researcher can focus more during their research on LSS.,It is important for industry, researchers and LSS practitioners to be aware about challenges and success factor during LSS implementation in various sectors such as manufacturing, education, financial, human resource and health care. Hence, this paper could provide significant and valuable insights to industry and practitioners for successful implementation of LSS projects.,LSS results in reduced waste, defects and improve process, which in turn provide high-quality products at minimum cost, and this leads to customer delight, which ultimately raises the societal living standard. The results encourage LSS practices without fear because there is a huge discussion of near about all success and failure parameters about LSS.,To the authors’ best knowledge, no studies have still covered the literature review of LSS implementation in three different sectors: manufacturing, service and process. The present study was mainly focused on presenting a systematic review of literature in said sectors and found the gap between current status and future direction for the implementation of LSS in different areas.

Leadership and Lean Six Sigma: a systematic literature review

Abstract: The term ‘Lean Six Sigma’ refers to the integration of ‘Lean’ and ‘Six Sigma’ business improvement methodologies, where ‘Lean’ is a process improvement methodology used to deliver products and serv...

Lean Six Sigma in policing services: case examples, lessons learnt and directions for future research

Abstract: This paper reports the use of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in Policing Services, Scotland and the authors present four case examples of LSS and the key lessons learnt from such projects Public services in

Modelling the barriers of Lean Six Sigma for Indian micro-small medium enterprises: An ISM and MICMAC approach

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the barriers of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and develop the interrelationship among them using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and Matriced Impact Croises Multiplication Appliquee a un Classement (MICMAC).,Using systematic literature review and expert’s opinions, 26 LSS barriers have been extracted and finalized through statistical analysis, that is importance-index analysis and corrected item minus total correlation methods. The statistical analysis of purified 22 LSS barriers has been carried out and consistency of finalized barriers has been checked through reliability statistical test in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Finally, the contextual relationship among finalized LSS barriers is developed using ISM and MICMAC approach.,The ISM model indicates that insufficient management commitment and involvement, lack of resources, lack of training and education, lack of strategic thinking, lack of training funds are strategic factors; improper project selection, poor selection of employee for belt training, lack of total employee involvement, lack of awareness of about LSS are prudent factors; unclear vision, high implementation cost, resistance to culture change, weak supplier linkage, poor alignment between company’s goal and customer demand are burst factors. Furthermore, MICMAC analysis is splitting the LSSBs in four clusters according to their driving power and dependency. These results provide a clear mind-set to engineering manager for focusing more on LSS barriers according to their driving power and dependency.,There may be biasness in making pairwise comparison matrix of barriers due to involvement of expert’s opinion as human error.,The outcome of this paper provides robust practical implication for LSS researchers and practitioners. The researcher and practitioners must consciously concentrate on the identified LSSBs more conventionally during LSS implementation, and they need to plan strategically to avoid any implementation failure.,For successful implementation of LSS in any organization, it is necessary and permeable to make strategy for controlling LSS barriers at initial stage. So this paper is a leading attempt to highlight main LSS barriers and interrelate them using ISM and MICMAC approach. It provides a clear path for tackling LSS barriers to engineering managers, researchers and consultants.

Top ten reasons for process improvement project failures

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to provide the top ten reasons of process improvement projects termination or failure to Lean and Six Sigma professionals and researchers.,The top ten reasons of process improvement projects termination or failure are based on literature, interaction of authors with Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belts, consultants, practitioners and trainers on various topics of Lean, Six Sigma, general quality management and continuous improvement along several years’ experience of the authors.,The top ten reasons in our opinion include lack of commitment and support from top management; poor communication practices; incompetent team; inadequate training and learning; faulty selection of process improvement methodology and its associated tools/techniques; inappropriate rewards and recognition system/culture; scope creepiness; sub-optimal team size and composition; inconsistent monitoring and control; and resistance to change.,The top ten reasons mentioned in this study are based on only literature and authors’ opinion. The authors of this paper have been pursuing a global study to critically evaluate the reasons behind process improvement projects failure based on a case-study approach.,The chief operations officers and senior executives of various businesses can use these top ten reasons to develop project failure risk mitigation strategies and save significant cash-savings associated with such project terminations or failures in some other cases.

Lean Six Sigma in healthcare: Fast track surgery for patients undergoing prosthetic hip replacement surgery

Abstract: Since healthcare spending accounts for approximately 6.6 per cent of the gross domestic product, reducing waste in health facilities is necessary to generate significant cost savings. After previous work concerning the application of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) to hip surgery, the purpose of this paper is to use LSS as the correct methodology to analyse a clinical pathway. Fast track surgery was introduced to the Complex Operative Unit of Orthopaedic and Traumatology of the University Hospital “Federico II” to improve quality and further reduce costs associated with prosthetic hip replacement surgery.,The DMAIC (Define, measure, analyse, improve, control) roadmap was used as the typical problem-solving approach of the LSS methodology. A rigorous process of defining, measuring, analysing, improving and controlling business problems can be used to reach fixed goals. The paper was written following the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence (SQUIRES Guidelines).,In this work, the authors found that multiple variables could influence the length of hospital stay (LOS) for inpatient treatment, thereby increasing patient management costs due to longer periods of hospitalisation. Therefore, LSS analysis of the implemented corrective actions demonstrated the efficacy and efficiency of the novel protocol. The average LOS was reduced from 10.66 to 7.8 days (−26.8 per cent).,The introduction of fast track surgery was validated through a rigorous LSS analysis, which demonstrated that the new protocol benefitted both patients and the hospital.

Lean Six Sigma for small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises: a systematic review

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore the most common themes within Lean Six Sigma (LSS) relating to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within manufacturing organisations and to identify the research gaps in the existing literature.,Tranfield et al.’s (2003) systematic review methodology was utilised encompassing three stages: planning, conducting and reporting/dissemination.,The literature revealed that there are many areas in which LSS has been utilised with varying successes. In total, 52 journals have been reviewed and it has been concluded that although LSS is a powerful methodology, there are many gaps that exist in the literature and further research is needed to address these in the field of LSS.,The papers included in the systematic review were peer-reviewed papers available in English. Due to these limitations, relevant papers may have been excluded. Moreover, the authors have excluded all conference and white papers for their inclusion in this study.,It is vital that LSS practitioners are fully aware of the benefits, limitations and impeding factors when implementing a LSS initiative. Therefore, this paper could provide valuable insights to ensuring maximum value, is obtained from LSS implementation in SMEs.,This systematic review identifies research gaps in the current literature and highlighting areas of future research which will be beneficial to many SMEs in their pursuit of value optimisation.

Integrating DMAIC approach of Lean Six Sigma and theory of constraints toward quality improvement in healthcare

Abstract: Healthcare is a unique service industry and it deals with complex tasks. To overcome complex tasks, healthcare organizations need to implement DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) approach of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) to improve quality performance. Application of DMAIC in a healthcare organization provides guidelines on how to handle a quality service system toward patient satisfaction. This approach also helps healthcare service providers to reduce waste, variation and work imbalance in the service processes. This chapter discusses five phases of DMAIC approach and its integration with the theory of constraints (TOC) for continuous improvements in healthcare performance. The integration of TOC and DMAIC approach would enhance healthcare performance by reducing medical costs, medical errors, administration errors and defects. Moreover, this integration can improve performance in healthcare service processes where it is not possible to reduce bottlenecks.

Lean Six Sigma for the healthcare sector: a multiple case study analysis from the Indian context

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore the voice of the customer, key performance indicators, critical to quality characteristics, critical success factors, and commonly used tools and techniques for deploying the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) strategy in Indian private hospitals, with special attention to the medical records.,The study utilizes the action research methodology to obtain a greater understanding of the use of LSS in the Indian healthcare sector. Multiple case studies were designed and successfully deployed to understand and ascertain challenges in LSS implementation. Five case studies were carried out in the Medical Records Departments (MRD) of four private hospitals in India.,Patients perceive that waiting in queue harms their health, which can be rectified by addressing the cycle time of the system. The research also found that effective leadership, availability of data, involvement of cross-functional team and effective communication are critical to the success of LSS projects. In addition, control charts, cause and effect diagram, 5S, gemba, two-sample t-test, standardization, waste analysis and value stream mapping are some of the common tools used to improve healthcare systems.,The research was restricted to studying the impact of LSS on the workflow and resource consumption of the MRD in Indian allopathic hospitals only. The validity of the results can be improved by including more hospitals and more case studies from the healthcare sector in different countries.,The findings will enable researchers, academicians and practitioners to incorporate the results of the study in LSS implementation within the healthcare system to increase the likelihood of successful deployment. This will provide greater stimulus across other departments in the hospital sector for wider and broader application of LSS for creating and sustaining process improvements.

Assessment of Lean Six Sigma Readiness (LESIRE) for manufacturing industries using fuzzy logic

Abstract: Many organizations have reported significant benefits after the implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS). Embracing LSS requires asking some important questions: How Lean Six Sigma Readiness (LESIRE) can be measured? How can an organization identify the barriers for LESIRE? Answers to these questions are critical to both academicians and practitioners. The paper aims to discuss this issue.,This study illustrates the development process of a Lean Six Sigma Readiness (LESIRE) evaluation model to assess an organization’s readiness for LSS deployment using the fuzzy approach. The model was developed from 4 enablers, 16 criteria and 46 attributes of LSS, identified through a literature review.,To demonstrate the efficiency of the model, this study testing the LESIRE evaluation model in three Indian SMEs. Using experts’ ratings and weight, the researchers calculated the Fuzzy Lean Six Sigma index (FLSS) which indicates the LESIRE level of an organization and the Fuzzy Performance Importance Index (FPII) that helps to identify the barriers for LESIRE.,The main limitations of this study are that it did not consider the failure factors of LSS for model development and the LESIRE was only tested in manufacturing industries. Thus, future researchers could focus on developing a model with failure factors. The results obtained from the SMEs show that LESIRE is capable of assessing LESIRE in an industrial scenario and helps practitioners to measure LESIRE for the future decision making process.,The LESIRE model is easy to understand and use without much computation complexity. This simplicity makes the LESIRE evaluation model unique from other LSS models. Further, LESIRE was tested in three different SMEs, and it aided them to identify and improve their weak areas, thereby readying them for LSS deployment.,The main contribution of this study it proposes a LESIRE model that evaluates the organization for FLSS and FPII for LESIRE, which is essential for the organization embarking on an LSS journey. Further, it improves the readiness of the organization that is already practicing LSS.

A study into the reasons for process improvement project failures: results from a pilot survey

Abstract: Process improvement initiatives, such as Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma, typically have common characteristics that are carried through projects Whilst a project’s performance is an important determinant of the successful implementation of continuous improvement (CI) initiatives, its failure can undermine the impact of any CI initiative on business performance As a result, an understanding of the reasons of process improvement project failures is crucial The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a pilot survey highlighting the most common reasons for process improvement project failures,This paper presents a pilot survey of 42 Brazilian manufacturing specialists who have been involved in process improvement projects The participants of this survey were Six Sigma Master Black Belts, Black Belts, Green Belts and Six Sigma champions from manufacturing companies in Brazil The survey questionnaire was piloted with five experts in the field in order to ensure that the questions were valid and technically sound,The execution of Six Sigma projects in organizations results in a moderate rate of project failures These failures can cost organizations several millions of dollars especially within the context of larger organizations The main reasons for project failure, as cited by the specialists include: resistance to change, lack of commitment and support from top management and incompetent teams,The authors report the findings from a pilot survey having a limited sample size Moreover, the data have been collected from one country and primarily from large manufacturing companies,To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study looking into the reasons for process improvement project failures The authors argue that if the top reasons for such failures are understood, a framework can be developed in the future that can mitigate the chance of project failures during project execution This could potentially lead to significant savings to the bottom-line of many organizations

Lean Six Sigma in financial services industry: a systematic review and agenda for future research

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to explore the trend and most common themes about Lean Six Sigma (LSS) implementation in the finance sector, and also to identify gaps in the themes that may be prevent...

Lean Six Sigma approach to reduce LOS through a diagnostic-therapeutic-assistance path at A.O.R.N. A. Cardarelli

Abstract: The rise of the mean age incremented the occurrence of femur fractures with respect to the past, leading thus to serious consequences, as regards morbidity and socio-economic impact. The direction of the A.O.R.N. Cardarelli of Naples has introduced a DTAP whose aim was the reduction of LOS. The paper aims to discuss this issue.,The aim of this paper is to analyze the introduction of DTAP, employing Lean Thinking and Six Sigma methodology based on the DMAIC cycle. To evaluate the effectiveness of DTAP, two groups of patients have been observed for 14 months (before and after the implementation of DTAP).,Statistical tests were performed on the groups and graphics were provided to visualize the decrease of LOS (29.9 per cent). The overall population was also divided in subgroups according to six variables potentially influencing LOS.,Authors considered six variables of influences; yet, others could be taken into account in the future.,The decrease of costs due to the management of elderly patients with femur fracture, the optimization of care processes in hospitals and a faster recovery for patients is the tangible contribute of DTAP.,The implementation of DTAP allowed the hospital to obtain a significant reduction of LOS with a consequently decrease of costs alleviating the hospital and the society from the socio-economic burden and the morbidity of this pathology.

Towards sustainability by aligning operational programmes and sustainable performance measures

Abstract: © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. In the last decades, sustainable concerns have increasingly gained importance to organizational survival, and Lean/Six Sigma approaches are becoming more and more outstanding in order to improve sustainability performance. This article aims to evaluate the degree of importance of sustainable performance measures of Brazilian organizations and to propose guidelines to achieve sustainability by aligning these measures with operational improvement programmes. Multiple data collection methods were applied as theoretical literature review, questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews with industry professionals and academic researchers. The findings show that it is the corporate responsibility to focus their efforts on both operational improvement programmes and sustainable initiatives in order to achieve better environmental protection, corporate reputation, quality management, cost performance and suppliers relations, as they are considered to be more important on organizational sustainability.

Decreasing Wait Times and Increasing Patient Satisfaction: A Lean Six Sigma Approach.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Patient satisfaction scores in the vascular interventional radiology department were low, especially related to wait times in registration and for tests/treatments, with low scores for intentions to recommend. PURPOSE The purpose of our quality improvement project was to decrease wait times and improve patient satisfaction using Lean Six Sigma's define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC) framework with a pre-/postintervention design. RESULTS There was a statistically significant decrease in wait times (P < .0019) and an increase in patient satisfaction scores in 3 areas: registration wait times (from 17 to 99 percentiles), test/treatment (from 19 to 60 percentiles), and likelihood to recommend (from 6 to 97 percentiles). CONCLUSIONS Lean Six Sigma was an effective framework for use in decreasing wait times and improving patient satisfaction.

Application of Lean Six Sigma in IT support services – a case study

Abstract: Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has been accepted globally across the service sector as a management strategy for achieving process excellence. In the past one decade, the application and success of LSS in services is remarkable across Information Technology (IT) organisations. However academic research has seldom derived implications from this practitioner’s science of improving processes. The purpose of this paper is to feature the application of LSS in the system maintenance department of a manufacturing firm.,The research reported in this paper is based on a case study carried out in system maintenance department using the Six Sigma Define-Measure-Analyse-Improve-Control (DMAIC) approach and its application in reducing complaint resolution time.,The LSS article presented here highlights a real-world case study of how LSS DMAIC methodology help reduce the complaint resolution time from 12.5 to 8.5 h (~30 per cent improvement) and the corresponding standard deviation from 28 to 17.4 days. This study also has resulted in reducing the turn-around-time of all the core processes in the organisation. The indirect financial savings estimated as a result of this overall impact was around INR2.5m.,The research was restricted to studying the impact of LSS in one organisation. The validity of the results can be improved by including more organisations and more case studies from the IT support services.,This could serve as a resource for both practitioners to derive useful implications and to academicians as it contributes to the LSS body of knowledge towards theory testing.

Lean Six Sigma effect on Jordanian pharmaceutical industry’s performance

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the effect of Lean Six Sigma elements on the Jordanian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing organizations’ business performance.,Data were collected from 120 managers out of about 300 managers by means of questionnaire. After confirming normality, validity and reliability of the study tool, correlation analysis was carried out, and then multiple regressions were used to test the hypotheses.,The results show that there is an agreement on high implementation of Lean Six Sigma variables among Jordanian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing organizations; there are strong relationships among Lean Six Sigma variables, except between non-utilized talent and transportation; there are strong relationships between Lean Six Sigma variables and business performance. All Lean Six Sigma variables have effect on business performance, except extra processing and waiting time.,This study was carried out on the pharmaceutical industry in Jordan, generalizing results of one industry and/or one country to other industries and/or countries may be questionable. Extending the analyses to other industries and countries represents future research opportunities.,Implementing Lean Six Sigma variables in all Jordanian Pharmaceutical Manufacturing organizations can improve their business performance; also, it can be applied to other manufacturing industry.,The aim of all organizations is to reduce waste, which leads to reserve the natural resources, which is considered as a corporate social responsibility.,Only few studies related to Lean or Six Sigma have been carried out in pharmaceutical industry in Jordan. Therefore, this study might be considered as an initiative study, which studies the effect of both Lean and Six Sigma on pharmaceutical industry in Jordan.

Lean management approach in hospitals: a systematic review

Abstract: Purpose In the recent few years, the Lean management has made significant improvements in providing quality service to patients in many health-care centers. Thus, this study aims to systematically review features and results of conducted studies using a lean management approach in hospitals. Design/methodology/approach In this systematic review, eight databases, including PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, Scopus, Iranmedex, SID, Magiran and Medlib, were searched using keywords including “Lean principles,” “Lean Six Sigma,” “Lean Process SID,” “Lean thinking,” “Lean Methodology,” “Toyota Production System lean processing,” “lean techniques” and “hospital,” as well as their Persian equivalents. Required data were extracted using an extraction table and were analyzed using content analysis method. Findings Out of 967 identified articles, 48 articles were included in the study. Most of the studies have been conducted in developed countries such as America, Britain, The Netherlands and Canada. The highest number of studies has been conducted in the overall hospital and emergency departments. Lean Six Sigma and Lean methodology were the most frequent terms used for lean management. The five-phase Six Sigma methodology was one of the most important methods used for the implementation of the Lean management. Performing the process at the first time (timing) and length of stay had the highest frequencies among indicators assessed in the studies. All indicators assessed in the studies have improved after the implementation of Lean management. Among 150 assessed indicators, 69 were meaningfully improved (p 0.05) and 69 indicators did not show any meaningful changes. Practical implications A number of implications are drawn out to aid academics, practitioners and policymakers in improving knowledge and skills. The elimination of production wastes is the most important principle of Lean thinking and paying attention to the clients and increasing the value. This will significantly improve quality of services to the patients and reduce costs and losses through preventing wastes. Suitable metrics in Lean management need to be established. A move to placing greater emphasis on understanding the contexts in which theory is implemented is another application. Research/limitation The limitation of this study is selection of studies in English and Persian language, excluding gray literatures and unpublished studies and relying on a relatively limited number of databases for the identification of potentially eligible studies. In addition, because of the enormous heterogeneity in the methods and results of the studies, performing a meta-analysis in this study was not possible. Originality/value The results of this study show that there were many dispersions and heterogeneities in the way of implementation and content of Lean management in hospitals.

Applying Lean Six Sigma for Waste Reduction in a Manufacturing Environment

Abstract: This study was applied in a welding wire manufacturing plant to improve the quality of the manufactured welding wires, reducethe manufacturing waste and increase the yield of the manufacturing process, by applying the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology and waste management. LLS is considered one of the successful approaches in the field of quality improvement and cost reduction. The case study plant working environment was analyzed to isolate the root causes for the waste generation. Remedies and countermeasures were suggested and some were implemented. The study compares the performance of the plant before and after implementation of the proposed solutions for waste reduction. Improvements in yield, waste, Defects Per Million Opportunities (DPMO), and sigma levels were achieved.The LSS methodology was linked to the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize the causes of waste. The objective was to use an analytical method in judging the influence of the waste causes on the amount of waste to enrich the methodology effectiveness and facilitate some ease of use in the practical field.

An exploratory study into the use of Lean Six Sigma to reduce medication errors in the Norwegian public healthcare context.

Abstract: Purpose: Medication errors are a significant cause of injury in Norwegian hospitals. The purpose of this study is to explore how Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has been used in the Norwegian public health-care context to reduce medication errors. Design/methodology/approach: A mixed method approach was used to gather data from participants working in the four regions served by the Norway health authorities. A survey questionnaire was distributed to 38 health-care practitioners and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 health-care practitioners. Findings: The study finds that the implementation of LSS in the Norwegian public health-care context is still in its infancy. This is amidst several challenges faced by Norwegian hospitals such as the lack of top-management support, lack of LSS training and coaching and a lack of awareness around the benefits of LSS in health care. Research limitations/implications: Because of the large geographical area, it was difficult to reach participants from all health regions in Norway. However, the study managed to assess the current status of LSS implementation through the participants’ perspectives. This is a fruitful area for future research whereby an action research methodology could be used. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study into the use of LSS methodology in reducing medication errors. In addition, this study is valuable for health-care practitioners and professionals as a guideline to achieve the optimal benefit of LSS implementation to reduce medication errors.

Lean and Six Sigma practices in the public sector: a review

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical analysis of publications relating to the use of continuous improvement (CI) methodologies, such as Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma over a 17-year period, to identify the themes and gaps, while informing the development of a future research agenda.,The systematic literature review identified 121 papers published between 2000 and 2017 from searches of over 1,400 peer-reviewed academic journals and also identified the application of Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma across the public sector.,This research compares the scale and breadth of the public sector with the application of CI methodologies and finds that such application is unstructured and, in some areas, sporadic. The research identifies common themes and research gaps including areas such as lack of shared understanding of Lean, gaps in strategy development and leadership and an overfocus on tools alone.,The methodology is focussed on the journals rated in the ABS Journal Guide 2015, which allowed manual searches for accuracy and relevance to the area of investigation. It is recognised that this may exclude some articles which have been published in other journals but allowed for a structured and detailed investigation. The research identifies some very clear gaps which can inform future research agendas.,The paper details the implications and challenges to the public sector, generally, and to executive leadership, specifically, and, in particular, covers the common issues and concerns, which in turn will assist public sector organisations in implementing, reviewing or refreshing their CI initiatives.,No similar work has been conducted and while some individual areas such as health and education have been the subject of more focus, this research explores the public sector as a whole and considers the patterns of research in that context.

A new framework to support Lean Six Sigma deployment in SMEs

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to propose an assessment approach to evaluate the organizational capabilities to deploy a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) strategy.,Based on a comprehensive literature review, critical success factors required to deploy LSS were defined. These key factors are evaluated by a questionnaire based on maturity grids and structured as a multi-criteria model to compute a potential LSS performance indicator. This approach is illustrated through two case studies.,To promote a successful implementation of LSS in SMEs, it is necessary to consider five main critical factors. The evaluation of these factors could be achieved thanks to a multi-criterion-based maturity indicator for the LSS implementation. The case studies show that this approach allows SMEs to understand their strengths and weaknesses and thus better prepare the implementation of LSS.,The proposed tool identifies characteristics of companies leading to successful LSS implementation; but is not yet able to provide a detailed strategy to improve them. The case studies were applied to manufacturing companies; therefore, there is no evidence of conclusions in the context of services.,The proposed methodology will help managers and practitioners to evaluate the readiness level of a company to implement LSS. Then, they could estimate the effort required to achieve the LSS deployment.,This paper proposes a new metric of the capacity to implement the LSS successfully in SMEs: the Lean Six Sigma Global Index. This indicator is based on a survey completed by managers and supported by observable phenomena to establish a tailored diagnosis before the LSS implementation.

Lean Six Sigma Approach to Improve the Production Process in the Mould Industry: a Case Study

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this article is to explore the optimization of internal process is assumed as a critical factor to be capable of answering to the moulds industries. Consequently, it has been considered essential to adopt high-valued methodologies to support tooling industry in order to achieve global competitive advantages. For that purpose, this work aims to apply LEAN principles and techniques to support mould design and manufacturing processes. Methodology/Approach: The methodology used was based on PDCA/DMAIC, with the following stages: Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control. For each stages was taken some of Lean Six Sigma techniques, such as Continuous Improvement, Value Stream Mapping, Pareto analysis and Overall Equipment Effectiveness. Findings: This study results was revealed that there are many areas on the organizations in the Mould Industry, when they utilize otimizations tools obtain hugt successes. With the Pareto analysis was carried out to show that events that contributes the most to the stops. The results were: unavailability of the operator (16.4%), programming the machine (14.4%) and tool exchange (12.4%) In the case of this Mould Industry study was obtained for the CNC machines studies, with the implementation of Lean Six Sigma tools as obtained a improvement about 20% of global OEE. Research Limitation/implication: This research was revealed that there the moulds are Project unique and difficult to analyze. Moreover, this paper reports that the approach LEAN Six Sigma is very interesting for the continuous improvement of processes and profitability of moulds industry. Originality/Value of paper: This research highlight areas of future research using of quality management methods and Lean Six Sigma tools to analyse and optimize production in the moulds industry. Therefore this research It is considered to promote and adopt high-valued methodologies to support tooling industry in order to achieve global competitive advantages.

A systematic literature review on Sustainable Lean Six Sigma: Current status and future research directions

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine the current status of Sustainable Lean Six Sigma (SLSS) practices execution in the industries by identifying the research gaps and also methodologies that are applied by different researchers and practitioners.,To find the current status of SLSS practices all over world, the literature review of the articles available through SCOPUS data base is given in different categories such as a country-wise and year-wise publication of the articles, journal-wise publication of articles, case study implementation focus in industry and data analysis techniques used by the researchers.,The different methodologies applied by the researchers and practitioners have been explained and the gaps for further research are identified. The extensive review of articles of last 18 years revealed that there are various opportunities such as quantitative study, framework modeling on the SLSS, and implementation of developed models in different industries, etc. which are required to be explored.,In the present study, a review of 129 articles for the time span of January 2000 to February 2018 is considered. The SCOPUS database was used for selecting the articles for review. A total of 129 articles were considered for the literature review, and the case study implementation in different industries with the focused areas such as cost reduction, defect reduction, economic, environmental and social aspects was explained.

A lean six sigma framework for continuous and incremental improvement in the oil and gas sector

Abstract: This paper aims to explore synergies between lean production (LP) and six sigma principles to propose a lean six sigma (LSS) framework for continuous and incremental improvement in the oil and gas sector. The Three-dimensional LSS framework seeks to provide various combinations about the integration between LP principles, DMAIC (define–measure–analyse–improve–control) cycle and plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle to support operations management needs.,The research method is composed of two main steps: diagnosis of current problems and proposition of a conceptual framework that qualitatively integrates synergistic aspects of LP and six sigma and analysis of the application of the construct through semi-structured interviews with leaders from oil and gas companies to assess and validate the proposed framework.,As a result, a conceptual framework of LSS is developed contemplating the integration of LP and six sigma and providing a systemic and holistic approach to problem-solving through continuous and incremental improvement in the oil and gas sector.,This research is different from previous studies because it integrates LP principles, DMAIC and PDCA cycles into a unique framework that fulfils a specific need of oil and gas sector. It presents a customized LSS framework that guides wastes and cost reduction while enhancing quality and reducing process variability to elevate efficiency in operations management of this sector. This is an original research that presents new and original scientific findings.

Lean Six Sigma in Brazil: a literature review

Abstract: This paper aims to investigate Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in the Brazilian context, seeking to identify its main characteristics and opportunities for future research.,This study focuses on a literature review in the area of production engineering and operations management, where 104 relevant scientific publications were identified.,The results show that the most important critical success factor for integrating LSS in Brazil is top management support and commitment. LSS integration occurs predominantly in large industrial companies, being incipient in small and medium-sized enterprises. In general, there is no structured way of applying LSS. A standard framework for LSS is still lacking.,This study is limited to a sample that only comprises Brazilian scientific studies.,Professionals and practitioners can understand the evolution of LSS through practical applications and the main LSS tools used in both the industrial and services sectors. It also points out the critical success factor for the implementation of LSS. The study highlights several roadmaps for LSS implementation adopted by large and modern Brazilian automotive industries based on a robust technological base. This study also contributes to expanding the evidence base of LSS application, both in Brazil and in other countries.,Some suggestions are proposed to clarify the structure and complexity of integrated implementation of LP and SS as well as expand the LSS application in small and medium-sized enterprises. This study is the first to discuss the current situation of LSS in Brazil and provide suggestions to expand LSS in the country. Comparisons of Brazilian LSS literature review with researches of others countries are also presented.

Introduction to engineering statistics and lean six sigma: statistical quality control and design of experiments and systems

Abstract: Six-Sigma is too wonderful and practical concept to ignore when the manufacturers of products, practitioners of health/medical professionals and researchers seek high quality to successfully compet...

Impacts of Lean Six Sigma on improving a higher education system: a case study

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the applicability and impact of Lean Six Sigma (LSS), a contemporary quality excellence methodology, for improving education system in a reputed University in Iran.,The paper follows a case study approach illustrating how theory has been put into practice, explaining how to implement the LSS define-measure-analyze-improve-control framework in a field-setting in a higher education institution (HEI), and to highlight the subsequent challenges occurred and lessons learned during the implementation.,The key finding from the study is the confirmation of LSS applicability in education systems. The goals of the LSS team were to baseline student satisfaction levels and improve the overall rating by 10 percent; to decrease student advising wait times by 15 percent; and increase enrollment by 5 percent. The application of the LSS methodology has delivered promising results to improve the education system of the University by achieving the set goals. Further, the implementation of LSS has demonstrated student-facing benefits of improved quality on the education system.,LSS implementation in HEIs is relatively a new topic for research. Hence, this case study adds to the body of knowledge with directions to progress future research in this area.,The outputs of the case study have provided greater stimulus within the facilities for wider full-blown deployment of LSS as a strategic resource for problem solving. Additionally, this case study sets the foundation for many other future projects, and to trigger interest among the HEIs in their journeys for quality excellence.,Higher education sector being a socially responsible field of service, LSS offers continuous improvement benefits, highlighted as part of this paper.,The applicability of LSS in HEIs is relatively an upcoming research area with immense potential and value. This paper would serve as a valuable means for both researchers and practitioners working in HEIs, in terms of understanding the systematic application of the LSS methodology, and implications in a real-world situation.