International Journal of Lean Six Sigma
2040-4166
2040-4174
Anh Quốc
Cơ quản chủ quản: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.
Lĩnh vực:
Management Science and Operations ResearchIndustrial and Manufacturing EngineeringStrategy and Management
Các bài báo tiêu biểu
Modelling of readiness factors for the implementation of Lean Six Sigma in healthcare organizations
Purpose
This paper aims to identify, analyze and categorize the major readiness factors for implementing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in health-care organizations using total interpretive structural modelling technique. The readiness factors are identified would help the managers to recognize the areas that lack and provide importance to the successful implementation of LSS in those areas. The paper further intends to understand the hierarchical interrelationships among the readiness factors identified using dependence and driving power.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 16 readiness factors are identified from the literature review and expert opinions are collected from hospitals. The scheduled interview is conducted based on a questionnaire survey in hospitals in the Indian context to identify the relevance of the relations among the readiness factors. The expert opinions are used in the initial reachability matrix and interpretative interaction matrix. Matrix impact cross multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) analysis uses dependence and driving power to understand the hierarchical relationship among the readiness factors identified.
Findings
The result indicates that customer-oriented and goal management cultures are the key readiness factors for LSS. The execution technique and training are given according to the current demand of customers and goal change of organization. The manager needs to concentrate more on readiness factors to formulate the execution process of LSS for continuous improvement of the health-care organization. The readiness level helps the manager to identify the target area for LSS execution.
Research limitations/implications
This research focuses mainly on readiness factors for the implementation of LSS in the health-care industry.
Practical implications
This study would be useful for researchers and practitioners to understand the readiness factors before starting the implementation process of LSS.
Originality/value
Many research studies are being done on the success and failure rate of implementation of factors. The present study identifies the readiness factors related to LSS, especially for the health-care industry.
Tập 11 Số 4 - Trang 597-633 - 2020
Innovative lean: work practices and product and process improvements Purpose Innovation is a key source of competitiveness in the knowledge economy, and continuous improvement (CI) is a key element of such corporate pursuit. The purpose of this paper is to explore links to prevalent shop floor conditions which support or prohibit the effective realisation of CI. Lean is a globally competitive standard for product assembly of discreet parts. Successful Lean application is conditioned by an evolutionary problem‐solving ability of the rank and file. This is in itself contingent on employee involvement in improvement programs and the implementation of appropriate practices. But the challenge of operating innovative Lean systems lacks statistically valid guidance. Design/methodology/approach This empirical study is based on 294 worker responses from 12 manufacturing sites in four industry sectors. Findings The study identifies particular practices that impact employee participation in improvement activities and their performance outcomes. Process suggestions are driven by a combination of difficult working conditions that the workers seek to improve and team‐based work. However, for suggestions on product improvements, significant practices are worker favorable industrial relations and human resource practices. Research limitations/implications To test work practices, work practice variables were measured with single items, trading lower measurement reliability for increased scope. Also, there is a moderate sample size, if addressed by selecting sites with a variety of practices. Practical implications The results indicate that the main business benefit is in enhanced product quality through process, rather than product, improvements, suggesting that management should pursue worker involvement on continuous process improvements, and employ designated design teams for product improvements. Originality/value The paper empirically identifies the relationship between particular work practices and product and process improvement in a Lean setting.
Tập 3 Số 1 - Trang 74-84 - 2012
Critical success factors of Lean Six Sigma for the Malaysian automotive industry Purpose The objective of this paper is to explore the critical success factors (CSFs) for Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in the Malaysian automotive industry. Design/methodology/approach Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to test the model drawing on a sample of 252 Malaysian automotive organisations. Exploratory factor analyses (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and reliability analysis empirically verified and validated the underlying items of CSFs of LSS. Findings The results of EFA, CFA, and reliability analysis show that two items for supplier relationship are recommended to be excluded from the analysis. The result indicates that LSS has identified 40 items as compared to the original questionnaire which had 42 items. Based on the survey of empirical data, the two factors of leadership and customer focus have been shown to be the extremely important factors for LSS implementation in the Malaysian automotive industry. Research limitations/implications Firstly, this survey is based only on the automotive industry in Malaysia, and therefore it is not generalisable to other industries. Secondly, there may be other CSFs for LSS such as culture change, project management skill, and employee involvement, which were not included in this study. Finally, for future research agenda, the authors are looking at the structural relationship between LSS practices and organizational performance in the Malaysian automotive industry. Originality/value The developed and tested content of this study fills the research gap by providing reliable and useful reference material on the CSFs of LSS. On top of that, the contribution for academic researchers and practitioners is to provide important guidelines for automotive and related companies to implement LSS strategic practices to improve organizational performance.
Tập 4 Số 1 - Trang 60-82 - 2013
Optimizing employee time in a purchasing department: a Six Sigma case study Purpose This paper aims to resolve a staffing solution for a purchasing department at the University of Miami to expand a service request bulk purchasing program that generates savings for the university and respective departments. Design/methodology/approach The well‐known lean Six Sigma methodology is applied to yield consistent results and eliminate unnecessary actions (steps/tasks) by the staff. Findings The university is able to reduce processing time for a service request from 168 hours to 2.27 by streamlining communication and service request and automating lengthy process steps using a proprietary built workflow intelligence system. Research limitations/implications There are limited publications in the field of lean Six Sigma as an approach to staffing solutions. Originality/value This paper provides an unexplored practical application of lean Six Sigma to yield a staffing solution.
Tập 2 Số 2 - Trang 180-190 - 2011
The consequences of Six Sigma on job satisfaction: a study at three companies in Sweden Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a study of how Six Sigma influences job satisfaction among employees at three large companies with manufacturing units in Sweden that have used different implementation strategies. Design/methodology/approach The study was performed using a survey distributed to those affected by the implementation at the three company sites, including those not directly involved in any Six Sigma activities. Findings Employees participating in Six Sigma feel positive changes in many aspects of job satisfaction. The Black Belts (BBs) felt, on the average, positive changes in almost all the tested areas. The largest changes are related to personal and new skill development, influence on work duties and enjoying the work. BBs also feel more recognition from management. Employees not involved in the Six Sigma projects do, on average, also feel positively influenced by Six Sigma, but the tendency is not as clear. Research limitations/implications The results constitute a platform for further studies on the relation between Six Sigma applications and job satisfaction due to the different approaches used in the three studied plants. Practical implications The positive results should help alleviate concerns of job satisfaction due to implementation of Six Sigma. Originality/value The paper fills a knowledge gap concerning the effect of Six Sigma on employees' well being and job satisfaction.
Tập 1 Số 2 - Trang 99-118 - 2010
Continuous improvement approach: state‐of‐art review and future implications Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the literature and provide an overview of the history, evolution and existing research on continuous improvement (CI). It reviews a large number of research papers in this field and presents the overview of various CI implementation practices demonstrated by manufacturing organizations globally. Design/methodology/approach The paper systematically categorizes the published literature, analyzes and reviews it methodically. Findings The paper reveals the important concepts, case studies and surveys in concerned with CI methodology. The contributions of CI programmes towards improving manufacturing performance of the organizations and CI values that underlies continuous improvement have also been highlighted. Practical implications The literature on classification of CI has so far been very limited. The paper reviews a large number of papers in this field and presents the overview of various CI practices demonstrated by manufacturing organizations globally. Further the future implications have also been discussed for the smooth and effective implementation of CI practices in manufacturing organizations. Originality/value The paper contains a comprehensive listing of publications on the field in question and their classification. It will be useful to researchers, professionals and others concerned with this subject to understand the significance of CI methodology.
Tập 3 Số 2 - Trang 88-111 - 2012
Measuring the Leanness of an organisation Purpose Existing audits fail to fully encapsulate the complexities of an organisation's value chain and the significance of culture and change to the success of Lean. The purpose of this paper is to identify precisely what is meant by the term, “a genuine Lean organisation” through the application of a comprehensive Lean audit focused at manufacturing firms in the UK. Design/methodology/approach An extensive audit was developed able to establish the juncture of an organisation's Lean journey. This was piloted within 20 manufacturing organisations in the UK. A total of 104 separate indices are used, which are grouped within 12 distinctive categories. Findings The audit provides an organisation with a Lean vision. Lean requires a considerable commitment and whilst successful implementations facilitate the improvement of numerous indices, the audit acquaints an organisation of the multifaceted requirements for Lean. Its real value is in identifying the juncture of Lean an organisation has accomplished. Research limitations/implications The audit has been tested in 20 manufacturing organisations; a natural extension would be to replicate the exercise within the service sector. Practical implications The audit results demonstrate how it is possible to split an organisation's Lean journey into seven evident phases. The feedback would improve the implementation records within the UK. Originality/value This paper tackles a void within the literature of a comprehensive Lean audit specifically examining: whether an organisation had adopted Lean as a philosophy, and to distinctively deduce the phase of a Lean journey the organisation had reached.
Tập 2 Số 1 - Trang 55-74 - 2011
A Six Sigma framework for marine container terminals Purpose This research uses an optimisation model, based on the Six Sigma methodology, which assists marine container terminal operators to minimize trucks' congestions, as a defect in the global containerisation and smoothing the gate activity to reduce trucks' turn‐around times. The main purpose of this paper is implementing the Six Sigma in the landside of marine container terminals to reduce the average number of trucks in queues and average trucks' waiting times in both entrance and exit gates. Design/methodology/approach This study examines the applicability of the DMAIC method along with the SIPOC, cause and effect diagram, and failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA). Findings In this paper, Six Sigma methodology is found as an accurate optimisation tool in marine container terminals. Risk Priority Numbers obtained from the FMEA analysis denote that additional control procedures and associated inspections are needed as monitoring tools on the working time and activity of weighbridge operators and truck's drivers. In addition, serious consideration should be given to operator's performance appraisal and improving the administrative systems. Research limitations/implications This study was carried out with some boundaries; like the complex operational system in marine container terminals, available data, time constraints, training the team members and controlling the implemented obtained results. Originality/value To date, no study has adequately examined the Six Sigma methodology in marine container terminals as an optimisation tool for reducing trucks' congestion. The challenging issues inherent this problem and the limitation of existing research, motivates this study.
- 2011
Improving process improvement: executing the analyze and improve phases of DMAIC better
Tập 3 Số 3 - Trang 231-250 - 2012
Deploying LSS in a global enterprise – project identification Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide Lean Six Sigma deployment champions with a structured approach to identify and prioritize parts of their business that are conducive to the Lean Six Sigma methodology. Design/methodology/approach A five‐step approach to Lean Six Sigma project identification is presented in this paper. The approach utilizes a clustering technique to group similar processes based on seven process characteristics. The clusters formed are then evaluated and prioritized for their compatibility to Lean Six Sigma. Findings The clustering approach can be applied to any industry segment, including non‐manufacturing, healthcare and financial‐based organizations. A case study is presented in this paper in which the approach is applied to an IT based company. A total of 30 percent of the business processes were found to be Lean Six Sigma conducive. Research limitations/implications The current model does not have provision to consider the current performance of a process as an evaluation criterion. This requires the deployment champion to use the model in conjunction with a Balanced Scorecard. Future research will address this limitation. Originality/value There is a general lack of a mathematical approach to enable Lean Six Sigma practitioners to identify parts of their business that are conducive to the methodology. This research attempts to bridge this gap in the literature by using an unsupervised learning approach, using a clustering algorithm, to group processes based on seven process characteristics. The cluster evaluation helps the deployment champion identify key areas within the business to focus an LSS deployment.
Tập 3 Số 3 - Trang 187-205 - 2012