Critical success factors of Lean Six Sigma deployment: a current review

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review and gather the latest critical success factors (CSF) of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) deployment and implementation into a comprehensive list of factors. Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken by authors in this study was to analyze the latest literature review starting 2010 onwards and focus on CSFs of LSS (not dedicated as Lean or Six Sigma) by excluding other improvement methodologies or initiatives, e.g. Lean, Six Sigma, TQM, TRIZ etc. Findings – Five significant CSFs were identified (initially 97 CSFs listed from 13 papers) out of nine groups/headers listed in clustering analysis using Affinity Diagram tool and new headers mapping. Practical implications – Most of the organisations were aware of the success story on LSS, but did not scrutinize or consider its CSFs. By knowing the outcome of this paper, it can help open eyes regarding readiness before implementing LSS. Originality/value – At the end of this paper, the authors tried to cluster the CSFs similarities that could intentionally provide the guidelines and references to industries/companies for successful deployment and implementation of LSS in future endeavours.

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Identify critical success factors to implement integrated green and Lean Six Sigma

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma ◽

10.1108/ijlss-07-2017-0076 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mrigendra Nath Mishra

Keyword(s):

Six Sigma ◽

Critical Success Factors ◽

Success Factors ◽

Comparative Investigation ◽

Subject Area ◽

Lean Six Sigma ◽

Lean Management ◽

Content Type ◽

Critical Success ◽

The Subject

Purpose The purpose of this paper is analysis of Green and Lean Six Sigma, based on the success factors in its use through a well thought-out literature review, is being planned; a framework has been integrated in a productive manner with the Green and Lean and Six Sigma methods so as to incorporate and actualize the execution. Design/methodology/approach The methodology consists of comparative investigation of Green, Lean management and Six Sigma using open written work, essential analysis at data and master experience of the researchers. To achieve this goal, a significant review of the existing literature of the subject area has been done to prepare a framework in view of the critical success factors. A study was arranged and flowed survey from various businesses utilizing John’s Macintosh Project (JMP) statistical software. Findings The paper establishes the distinguishing proof of five success factors with their situational importance and shows that the integrated Green and Lean Six Sigma can drive the organizations to optimize their resources and cost of services or productions. Practical implications A Green and Lean Six Sigma organization would take profits by the use of the proposed framework in an alternate extent of organizations should be dynamic. The organizations should assess their shortcomings and qualities, set needs and perceive objectives for fruitful implementation. Originality/value Suggestions are being made regarding thoughts and methods that would constitute a Green and Lean Six Sigma organization. The suggested framework compare the method for improvements that may occur in organizations while implementation of the Green and Lean management or Six Sigma.

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Critical success factors for lean six sigma in quality 4.0

International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences ◽

10.1108/ijqss-06-2020-0099 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 123-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Neeraj Yadav ◽

Ravi Shankar ◽

Surya Prakash Singh

Keyword(s):

Six Sigma ◽

Industry 4.0 ◽

Critical Success Factors ◽

Success Factors ◽

Lean Six Sigma ◽

Related Factors ◽

Seamless Integration ◽

Content Type ◽

Critical Success ◽

Set Up

Purpose Critical success factors (CSF) for lean six sigma (LSS) using quality 4.0 are not researched so far. This study aims to bridge this gap. It also validates CSF already identified for LSS under conventional technologies. Design methodology approach Empirical research using the questionnaire method is conducted. Construct of the questionnaire is checked using Cronbach’s alpha and responses received are analysed using t-test and exploratory factor analysis. Findings In total, 20 factors are evaluated for LSS success. It includes 7 factors related to quality 4.0 technologies and 13 related to the conventional set-up. All 7 quality 4.0 related factors were found critical; whereas, under traditional set-up, 11 factors out of 13 were found critical. Practical implications The study will help enterprises in the fast and effective adoption of quality 4.0 and seamless integration with LSS. The post-Covid-19 business scenario is expected to be information technology focussed. The findings of this study will be useful in these circumstances. Consultants and practitioners can prioritise their efforts based on newly identified CSF. The new revelation about CSF for LSS in quality 4.0 enriches theory as well. Social implications Developing skills based on newly identified CSF will help people in remaining employable in the era of automation, robotics and artificial intelligence which is otherwise ill-famed for destroying jobs. Originality value CSF for LSS using quality 4.0 is a new contribution. It differentiates CSF established earlier for conventional technologies. Moreover, many CSF are common for LSS and industry 4.0, therefore this study will also help in smoother adoption of industry 4.0/quality 4.0 in organisations.

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The implementation of Lean Six Sigma for operational excellence in digital emerging technology companies

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management ◽

10.1108/jmtm-09-2020-0373 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 32 (9) ◽

pp. 260-284

Author(s):

Bart A. Lameijer ◽

Wilmer Pereira ◽

Jiju Antony

Keyword(s):

Six Sigma ◽

Critical Success Factors ◽

Success Factors ◽

Emerging Technology ◽

Lean Six Sigma ◽

High Tech ◽

Content Type ◽

Technology Industry ◽

Critical Success ◽

Operational Excellence

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to develop a better understanding of the hurdles in implementing Lean Six Sigma (LSS) for operational excellence in digital emerging technology companies.Design/methodology/approachWe have conducted case studies of LSS implementations in six US-based companies in the digital emerging technology industry.FindingsCritical success factors (CSF) for LSS implementations in digital emerging technology companies are: (1) organizational leadership that is engaged to the implementation, (2) LSS methodology that is rebranded to fit existing shared values in the organization, (3) restructuring of the traditional LSS training program to include a more incremental, prioritized, on-the-job training approach and (4) a modified LSS project execution methodology that includes (a) condensing the phases and tools applied in LSS projects and (b) adopting more iterative project management methods compared to the standard phased LSS project approach.Research limitations/implicationsThe qualitative nature of our analysis and the geographic coverage of our sample limit the generalizability of our findings.Practical implicationsImplications comprise the awareness and knowledge of critical success factors and LSS methodology modifications specifically relevant for digital emerging technology companies or companies that share similarities in terms of focus on product development, innovation and growth, such as R&D departments in high-tech manufacturing companies.Originality/valueResearch on industry-specific enablers for successful LSS implementation in the digital emerging technology industry is virtually absent. Our research informs practitioners on how to implement LSS in this and alike industries, and points to aspects of such implementations that are worthy of further attention from the academic community.

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Assessing the adoption of critical success factors for lean six sigma implementation

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management ◽

10.1108/jmtm-12-2020-0488 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Carlos Gastelum-Acosta ◽

Jorge Limon-Romero ◽

Diego Tlapa ◽

Yolanda Baez-Lopez ◽

Guilherme Tortorella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Six Sigma ◽

Critical Success Factors ◽

Success Factors ◽

The United States ◽

Lean Six Sigma ◽

Extensive Literature ◽

Manufacturing Companies ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Content Type ◽

Critical Success

PurposeThe objective of the study is to design and validate an instrument that allows organizations to assess their status regarding the adoption of the critical success factors (CSFs) that enable lean six sigma (LSS) implementation in order to achieve the expected benefits.Design/methodology/approachAn extensive literature review was conducted to define the LSS CSFs that have to be considered for the development of the questionnaire that would later be applied across all manufacturing companies on the Northern Mexican border. Once the database was built, a statistical verification of the assumptions required for factor analysis took place. Finally, the due construct validation was carried out to verify whether the proposed instrument measured reliably what it is intended to.FindingsA questionnaire measuring nine CSFs, as well as the benefits associated with the implementation of LSS, was designed and validated through 61 items.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations of this study are that the research is cross-sectional and that the study was carried out taking as a reference only exporting manufacturing companies located in the border area between Mexico and the United States.Practical implicationsThe validated instrument is expected to serve as a useful tool for companies interested in the implementation of LSS.Originality/valueThis study introduces a validated tool for the analysis of LSS CSFs while providing evidence of construct validity and the solid structure of the factors.

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Critical success factors of TQM, Six Sigma, Lean and Lean Six Sigma

Benchmarking An International Journal ◽

10.1108/bij-08-2017-0223 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (9) ◽

pp. 3479-3504 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Raja Sreedharan V. ◽

Vijaya Sunder M. ◽

Raju R.

Keyword(s):

Six Sigma ◽

Critical Success Factors ◽

Success Factors ◽

Lean Six Sigma ◽

Future Research ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Total Quality ◽

Content Type ◽

Critical Success ◽

The Future

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.

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Analyzing the critical success factors influencing Lean Six Sigma implementation: fuzzy DEMATEL approach

Journal of Modelling in Management ◽

10.1108/jm2-07-2019-0155 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Shruti J. Raval ◽

Ravi Kant ◽

Ravi Shankar

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Influencing Factors ◽

Six Sigma ◽

Critical Success Factors ◽

Success Factors ◽

Case Analysis ◽

Lean Six Sigma ◽

Content Type ◽

Critical Success ◽

Impacting Factors

Purpose Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is receiving a tremendous attention as a modern process of streaming to improve the organizational ability and customer satisfaction. A successful LSS implementation is influenced by various factors and the execution of all the influencing factors simultaneously is a very difficult task for any organization. From the perspective of limitation of resources, this paper aims to present a basic issue in an LSS implementation of clustering complex and impacting factors into groups to achieve them in a stepwise manner. This paper aims to present a fundamental issue of clustering the complex and impacting factors of an LSS implementation into groups to achieve them stepwise. Design/methodology/approach A total of 40 relevant influencing factors toward an LSS implementation have been identified from the extensive literature review and duly validated with experts’ opinions. Integrated fuzzy set theory and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach are demonstrated to explore the causal relationships among influencing factors of the LSS implementation. An empirical case analysis of an Indian manufacturing organization is carried out to illustrate the utilization of the proposed model. Findings The proposed framework effectively finds out the significance of each influencing factor of an LSS implementation and clustered into cause–effect groups. As per the results of the empirical case analysis, ten critical success factors (CSFs) of the LSS implementation are evaluated for the successful LSS implementation. Top management pays more attention to achieve them and implement them in a phase-wise approach under the limitations of accessible resources. Research limitations/implications The presented framework provides an effective, precise and systematic decision support tool for recognizing CSFs of the LSS implementation. The organization, decision-makers, industrial practitioners and academic researchers may be able to comprehend the cause–effect relationship of the influencing factors of the LSS implementation. The exploratory nature and the single case study are two major limitations of this analysis. The developed model is heavily dependent on the experts’ opinions; hence, any bias in judgment will influence the final result. Originality/value This analysis is the first of its kind of effort, according to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to classify the influencing factors of LSS implementation into the cause–effect cluster. The outcomes of this analysis make the complexity of a problem easier in handling and assisting the decision-making.

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Six Sigma in construction: a review of critical success factors

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma ◽

10.1108/ijlss-11-2015-0045 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 171-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Siddra Qayyum Siddiqui ◽

Fahim Ullah ◽

Muhammad Jamaluddin Thaheem ◽

Hamza Farooq Gabriel

Keyword(s):

Six Sigma ◽

Construction Projects ◽

Critical Success Factors ◽

Success Factors ◽

Content Type ◽

Search Techniques ◽

Critical Success ◽

Extensive Search ◽

Green Zone ◽

Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims at collecting and reviewing the published literature on the Six Sigma in construction along with its critical success factors (CSFs). Design/methodology/approach The research is based on literature review. Based on the keyword and semantic search techniques, papers published on the topic of Six Sigma during 2000-2015 are retrieved. Frequency analysis is performed to find out significance of identified CSFs, and zoning is performed based on the product of frequency of appearance and parties affected by the CSFs. Findings A total of 69 CSFs are identified as published in the literature. Based on an inclusion criterion of minimum 15 appearances, 22 CSFs are shortlisted for further analysis. Of these CSFs, around 32 per cent fall into red zone (most critical), 50 per cent into yellow and 18 per cent into green zone (least critical). Research limitations/implications This work is limited by partial identification of CSFs. Though based on an extensive search, the retrieved CSFs may not be all the published ones. However, more thorough search techniques can be applied to improve upon this work. Practical implications The findings can be used to facilitate the decision-making in the context of project success. Originality/value This work is an original attempt at gathering Six Sigma CSFs applicable to construction projects. It may be used for further research and development to help ensure project quality and success.

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Application of graph-theoretic approach for the evaluation of lean-six-sigma (LSS) critical-success-factors (CSFs) facilitating quality-audits in Indian small & medium enterprises (SMEs)

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management ◽

10.1108/ijqrm-05-2019-0166 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Manisha Lande ◽

Dinesh Seth ◽

Rakesh L. Shrivastava

Keyword(s):

Six Sigma ◽

Critical Success Factors ◽

Success Factors ◽

Lean Six Sigma ◽

Theoretic Approach ◽

Content Type ◽

Graph Theoretic ◽

Critical Success ◽

Graph Theoretic Approach ◽

Medium Enterprises

Purpose One of the major challenges for developing countries is the lack of mechanisms for the evaluation of critical success factors (CSFs) of quality initiatives, which hampers the journey toward sustainability. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has been one of the most widely used initiatives supporting quality improvement with wastes reduction and facilitating sustainability. To expedite LSS and its spread, it is important to evaluate key CSFs. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to provide an approach for the evaluation of LSS-CSFs for Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a graph theoretic approach and demonstrates the evaluation of LSS-CSFs by proposing an index. The development of index is illustrated using a set of seven prioritized CSFs based on the literature review paper (Lande et al., 2016). Findings This study guides about the translation of CSFs in the form of an index (number) and will benefit both researchers and practitioners, who wish to study the role of key CSFs for implementation and audit requirements for sustainability. Research limitations/implications Authors remain confined only to Indian SMEs. Originality/value LSS possesses the potential to enhance the performance of manufacturing SMEs, but its evaluation is not easy. This attempt for offering a useful evaluation scheme involving CSFs, in the areas of LSS in developing country contexts, is the first. The approach also facilitates both quality audits and benchmarking between different sets of CSFs. The approach is generalizable and can be extended in other areas.

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