scholarly journals Integrating of Lean Six Sigma Methodology and Ergonomics Principles for Improvement in an Assembly Industrial Workstation

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 12-29
Author(s):  
Iman Qassin Alsaffar ◽  
Hussein Salim Ketan
Keyword(s):  
Six Sigma ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Work Condition ◽  
Research Plan ◽  
Six Sigma Methodology ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Selection Of

Lean Six Sigma methodologies and Ergonomics principles are the main pillars of this work given their importance in the implementation of continuous improvement in assembly workstations design. When looking at the introduction of the Ergonomics that has been affected by the integration of the Lean and Six Sigma for improvements, it is necessary to understand why these methodologies belong to each other and how they can be handled in the industrial field. The aim of the work seeks towards the impact of analyzing the integration of the basics tools of Lean and Six Sigma that enhanced Ergonomics highlighted the importance of using the priority matrix in the selection of the priority criteria. Two models of a system based on building a knowledge base were used to collect and record measurement data from information and facts. The first is the "Process-flow vs. Time Efficiency" relates to "value added and non-value added" activities. The second is the "Work-Condition vs. Ergonomics Effects", which focuses on postural movements of the worker. These integrative models are represented by the application of a system called "LSS + ERGO System". The appropriate state that can deal with this situation is the use of Smart Priority Matrices that will prove to be a useful tool. This method (tool) is possible to understand what actions are potential and important to be implemented, according to the track that the research will be taken. The results show that the improvement suggestions existing in the Improve stage focused on the opportunities that weigh larger than the average (10%)  obtain the acceptable procedures for optimization proposals can be identified as the research plan is presented for implementation. The case study has been implemented in the General Company for Hydraulic Industries/ Damper Assembly Factory.  

Improving university facilities services using Lean Six Sigma: a case study

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen F. Mohamed Isa ◽  
Mumtaz Usmen
Keyword(s):  
Six Sigma ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Content Type ◽  
General Improvement ◽  
Six Sigma Methodology ◽  
Construction Services ◽  
Design And Construction

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a case study on the use of Lean Six Sigma principles and tools to study the improvement in design and construction services at a university. The quality of facilities services at universities has been criticized by users calling for improvement. Design/methodology/approach – Quality of facilities services at universities has been criticized by users calling for improvement. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study on using Lean Six Sigma principles and tools to study improving design and construction services at a university. Findings – It was found that non-value-added general improvement review form (GIRF) process steps involving revisions and rework for the design and construction result in time delays, cost increases and quality deficiencies and render cost estimates unreliable; these are unnecessary and should be minimized or eliminated. It was additionally noted that administrative reviews and approvals embedded in GIRF processes slow down work flow, leading to similar problems. Because such steps may be needed for institutional reasons precluding elimination, it was recommended that efforts be directed toward reducing their durations and costs. Overall, the Lean Six Sigma methodology proved to be successful for the intended purpose. Originality/value – Although universities are aware of their facilities services’ quality issues and have been addressing them, no published information is available on how to systematically evaluate and improve such services to increase customer satisfaction. This paper aims at filling this gap.

Lean Six Sigma in higher education institutes: an Irish case study

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 948-974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seamus J. O’Reilly ◽  
Joe Healy ◽  
Tom Murphy ◽  
Rónán Ó’Dubhghaill
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to a developing literature on continuous improvement (CI), enabled by Lean Six Sigma (LSS), in higher education institutions (HEIs). It reports on the key learning points arising from the initial steps taken by an Irish university on its CI journey. Design/methodology/approach A case study strategy was adopted following a participatory research approach. This approach supports reflexivity and also provides access to all relevant documentation and staff within the case university. Thematic analysis was supported by data reduction and display techniques. Findings The introduction of a LSS approach rather than a reliance on lean alone introduced a structured methodology (DMAIC) that supported simplification of a number of administrative processes. A number of specific improvements were achieved including: Cycle time and cost reduction; customer or employee satisfaction; and rework and error reduction. The findings support the importance of the Readiness Factors as identified by Antony (2014), with particular insight into the role of senior and middle management, the impact of training and deployment of expertise. Research limitations/implications This paper is based on an ongoing, longitudinal, empirical study of a single case study in Ireland. Originality/value This paper tracks the development of CI in a HEI in a longitudinal manner and adds to the emerging the literature in this area. The paper evaluates the role of management at various levels, analyses the use of LSS tools and techniques and evaluated the role of training and capacity building. Implications for Management are shared including: design and role of training programmes, role of champions at various organisational levels, including key functional areas and sustaining momentum.

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

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gijo E.V. ◽  
Jiju Antony ◽  
Vijaya Sunder M.
Keyword(s):  
Support Services ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Resolution Time ◽  
Manufacturing Firm ◽  
Content Type ◽  
It Support ◽  
System Maintenance ◽  
The Impact

Purpose 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. Design/methodology/approach 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. Findings 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. Research limitations/implications 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. Originality/value 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 journey in a UK higher education institute: a case study

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 510-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiju Antony ◽  
Abhijeet Ghadge ◽  
Stephanie A. Ashby ◽  
Elizabeth A. Cudney
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Efficiency And Effectiveness ◽  
Uk Higher Education ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the fundamental challenges and critical success factors in the development of a Lean Six Sigma (LSS) initiative within a UK higher education institute (HEI). The paper also illustrates examples of the types of projects completed and share some of the key lessons learned as part of the LSS journey. Design/methodology/approach The authors have initially carried out an extensive literature review on the application of LSS in higher education to understand the existing body of work carried out by other scholars in the field. This is followed by presenting a case study explaining how a HEI in the UK has embarked on its LSS journey as a process excellence methodology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of core and supporting business processes. Findings There has been a clear lack of support and commitment from senior management in the sustainability of LSS within the case study organization. There was a general lack of understanding of the benefits of LSS in the higher education context and there is a lack of knowledge on the use of LSS tools for tackling process efficiency and effectiveness problems across the case study organization. Although a number of LSS projects were executed across finance, administrative, and human resources, as well as IT and library services, no projects were carried out for improving academic processes such as teaching effectiveness. Research limitations/implications As the case study is limited to one higher education institution (HEI), the findings of the study cannot be broadly generalized. Moreover, the paper does not report the findings of any strategic projects as most projects were carried out at the operational level. Originality/value This is possibly one of the first studies reporting project examples of LSS in a HEI. The results of the study can also be used to benchmark with similar studies in other HEIs to understand the impact of certain management practices of LSS.

scholarly journals Lean Six Sigma and marketing: a missed opportunity

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 665-674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Chaplin ◽  
Simon T.J. O’Rourke
Keyword(s):  
Six Sigma ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Marketing Function ◽  
Marketing Orientation ◽  
Csr Strategy ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the current use being made of the sustainability message within business improvement activity and project justification within individual businesses. Design/methodology/approach – This is a reflective paper that looks at an illustrative case study against the wider perspectives of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) implementation, market orientation and business improvement initiatives in general. Findings – The piece discusses the gains derived from the LSS projects and identifies gaps in potential benefits in particular the paper questions how well any potential marketing messages were exploited by the organisation. The findings critically evaluates the impact that marketing function involvement could have in helping to promote the wider productivity message and its contribution to the wider corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy for the organisation. The document also suggests how the company could leverage internally focused projects to adopt a companywide marketing orientation and use such leverage to support future LSS project selection and justification. Research limitations/implications – The observations are limited to a single case study, although tempered by the authors’ wider experience. Further empirical research is required to validate the observations and conclusions. Practical implications – The proposed approach to future improvement initiatives can help to increase the wider productivity message and assist organisations to exploit their internal projects in external communications and wider CSR strategy. Originality/value – The paper proposes an approach that can be used to widen organisational involvement in improvement initiatives allowing future project justification to be less internally cost focused, more holistic with a focus on customer voice.

scholarly journals Lean Six Sigma in the logistics of the loading process of a paper mill

Exacta ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 191-200
Author(s):  
Marina Langoni Linares ◽  
Eliane Da Silva Christo ◽  
Kelly Alonso Costa
Keyword(s):  
Performance Improvement ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Paper Mill ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Lead Times ◽  
Loading Process ◽  
Logistics Services ◽  
Six Sigma Methodology ◽  
Dmaic Method

Customers are each day more demanding with costs reduction, sustainability, quality improvement and shorter lead times. Since logistics operation is involved in every step of the chain, it becomes an important asset for companies to win market share. Seeking to attend the organizations and customers’ needs, Lean Six Sigma methodology could bring benefits to logistics services. Aiming to study those benefits, this article presents a case study about the interaction between the LSS and the loading process in a paper mill located in Brazil. The site had already adopted the DMAIC method in the manufacturing areas, but not in the service ones, which made it easier the implementation, guaranteeing the support and involvement of management. In the end of the study, it was possible to notice several benefits in implementing the LSS, as reduction of 32% of cycle time and 43% of performance improvement.

Application of Lean Six Sigma methodology in the registration process of a hospital

2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 613-643 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shreeranga Bhat ◽  
E.V. Gijo ◽  
N.A. Jnanesh
Keyword(s):  
Six Sigma ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Healthcare Sector ◽  
College Hospital ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Registration Process ◽  
Six Sigma Methodology

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the scope of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) strategy and to explore its successful deployment in the Indian healthcare sector. Design/methodology/approach – The research reported in this paper is based on a case study carried out using the LSS DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Control) approach and its application in improving the registration process in the Health Information Department (HID) of a Medical College hospital in India. Findings – The study describes improvements in the HID through the power of LSS. Cycle time of the process was reduced from three to 1.5 minutes and the SD was reduced to 21.2 from 61 seconds. The project has shown a 94 per cent reduction in patients’ average waiting time. The study also reported a 91 per cent reduction in queue length and 48 per cent reduction in percentage of scheduled utilization of staff for the process. Research limitations/implications – The paper is based on a single case study executed in a hospital and hence there is limitation in generalizing the specific results from the study. But the approach adopted and the learning from this study can be generalized. The study is of use to healthcare practitioners seeking to implement or develop LSS further in their organizations. Originality/value – Although LSS being extremely successful in the last two decades, the application of LSS to the healthcare industry in general and HID in particular has been limited. This study illustrates how its application can improve the performance of the process and thus productivity in the department.

scholarly journals Reduce Waste Using Integration of Lean Six Sigma and TRIZ Method: A Case Study in Wood Industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-152
Author(s):  
Dian Hadi Purnomo ◽  
Muhammad Lukman
Keyword(s):  
Production Process ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Lean Production ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Major Focus ◽  
Wood Industry ◽  
Increase Productivity ◽  
Negative Impacts

Recently, lean production has become a major focus of researchers and industry. The zero waste concept holds an important role in the production process. The aim of this concept is to reduce waste and to increase productivity. Wastes have significant negative impacts to the company, one of which is the decrease of company profit. This research aimed to integrate the Lean Six Sigma method with Teorya Resheniya Izobreatatelskikh Zadatch (TRIZ) in order to reduce wastes. These two methods were applied with Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control(DMAIC) methodology. A case study was conducted in a wood manufacturing company. The results of the study suggest that the application of the two methods can significantly reduce the Non-value Added (NVA).

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