CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IT OPERATIONS IN BRAZIL: DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDICATOR MODEL FOR ASSESSING CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BASED ON LEAN SIX SIGMA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Johnny Honorato ◽  
Marcelo T. Okano ◽  
Henry Lobo ◽  
Alex Viana
Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Karam Al-Akel ◽  
Liviu-Onoriu Marian

Even if Lean and Six Sigma tools are available for large audiences, many of the continuous improvement projects fail due to the lack of a pathway that ensures appropriate results in a timely manner. We would like to address this universal issue by generating, testing and validating an algorithm that improves manufacturing processes in a controlled manner. With a selection of the most valuable set of tools and concepts implemented in a specific order, a guideline for successful project implementation is proposed. Decreasing the overall number of continuous improvement project failures is the main scope of our algorithm and suggested methodology.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yugowati Praharsi ◽  
Mohammad Abu Jami’in ◽  
Gaguk Suhardjito ◽  
Hui Ming Wee

Purpose This study aims to apply a Lean Six Sigma framework to support continuous improvement in the maritime industry (shipbuilding, logistics services and shipping companies) during COVID-19 pandemics. By applying the concepts of Lean Six Sigma and supply chain resilience, the most suitable continuous improvement method for the maritime industry is developed to maintain a resilient supply chain during COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach A specific shipbuilding, logistics services and shipping company in Indonesia is chosen as the research object. The Lean Six Sigma framework reveals the wastes through the supply chain resilience concept, and implements internal business processes to maintain optimal system performance. Findings The paper identifies important implementation aspects in applying Lean Six Sigma to shipbuilding, logistics services and shipping. The DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, improve and control) approach is applied to achieve supply chain resilience. Resilient measures are generated for the case companies to maximize performance during the pandemics. Practical implications This paper provides a new insight for integrating Lean Six Sigma and resilience strategies in the maritime industry during COVID-19 disruptions. The authors provide some insights to sustain the performance of the maritime industries under study. Originality/value This study is part of the first research in the maritime industry that focuses on continuous improvement during COVID-19 using Lean Six Sigma and supply chain resilience.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 566-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Muganyi ◽  
Ignatio Madanhire ◽  
Charles Mbohwa

Purpose The research paper aims to unveil the practical use of Lean Six Sigma and its effectiveness as a business survival strategic tool by a chemical product realization concern, as well as to establish the market and business performance impacts on the manufacturing entity. Design/methodology/approach A case study approach was pursued with a multi-national chemical manufacturing entity in South Africa. A comprehensive literature research was undertaken to establish the contemporary tools used for implementing Lean Six Sigma, and the classification and flow of tools and steps undertaken to ensure the successful and effective application of Lean Six Sigma in a manufacturing organization and the benefits derived. The critical success factors and reasons of ineffective use of tools are reviewed. To ensure that a comprehensive research was conducted which is relevant to the body of knowledge in engineering, recent articles on the application of Lean Six Sigma were selected and reviewed during the progress of the study to add impetus to the relevance of the findings. Findings The research findings were mainly based on the inferences obtained from a chemical product manufacturing concern in South Africa, to distinguish the efficacy and relevance of Lean Six Sigma as strategic business survival tool and imputing strategic resonance to corporate strategy. Research limitations/implications This research was limited to distinguishing Lean Six Sigma as a business survival strategic tool and an ultimate enhancer of market performance for a chemical product manufacturing entity. The implementation and evaluation of the Lean Six Sigma methodology as a business survival strategic and market performance enhancement option for the case study organization was entailed as the corollary of deductive resemblance to similar entities. Practical implications This study enables continuous improvement practitioners to evaluate the Lean and Six Sigma practices. The advantages posed by the simultaneous and optimized application of the two approaches versus individual application were assessed and verified to produce enhanced continuous improvement. This poses further challenges to scholars and academics to pursue further researches on the practicality of applying Lean Six Sigma as a strategic option. Originality/value The paper prompts the efficacy of well publicized methodologies and evaluates their implementation for strategic performance for manufacturing organizations. The practical application, constraints and resultant effects of deploying Lean Six Sigma were reviewed to give impetus to the methodology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 641-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan A. Rodgers ◽  
Jiju Antony ◽  
Zhen He ◽  
Elizabeth A. Cudney ◽  
Chad Laux

Purpose The purpose of this paper, builds on previous studies that explored the research patterns over 15 years, is to consider the current status of the integration of Lean and Six Sigma. More specifically, this research addresses whether Lean and Six Sigma are stronger together and explores the reasons why Lean researchers and practitioners may be less likely to integrate Six Sigma in their work. Design/methodology/approach The research utilises a survey of 25 established and respected academics and practitioners from 16 countries. The questionnaire is analysed using a direct content approach and coded in NVivo. Findings The findings suggest that challenges may lie in the perception and understanding of statistics as well as short-term rather than long-term focus on improvement. The findings also suggest that academics and practitioners believe that Lean Six Sigma has developed over time and will continue to develop and improve as a methodology rather than being replaced with a new methodology. Research limitations/implications The survey has a sample size of 25, albeit all respondents are established and very experienced practitioners and academics. Practical implications For organisations that are introducing or refreshing their continuous improvement initiatives, this research identifies some of the challenges and provides the opportunity to address them to maximise the opportunities for success and sustainability. Originality/value The value of this paper is that it further addresses the debate over the integration of Lean and Six Sigma for many organisations which still employ Lean alone, but beyond this it explores how they will continue to develop and whether they are a permanent edition to the quality management landscape or a transition to something else.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 861-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Said El Mezouari ◽  
Zahira Bouaouda ◽  
Hicham Drissi

Companies tend increasingly to turn to the so-called continuous improvement in order to improve their performance and thus enhance their competitiveness approaches. In times of crisis, the use of these approaches becomes mandatory. In this context, the Lean Six Sigma is incontestably today a vehicle for business development as it allows performance improvement through various appropriate tools on one side, and incitement to contribution of different actors in the company, on the other side. In Africa, the Lean Six Sigma looks like an opportunity that seems to come at the right time in an environment that seems to need it. Is it then a management instrument emerging from a fad phenomena, or is it a real tool for performance improving for African companies, responding to a real need?


2012 ◽  
Vol 488-489 ◽  
pp. 1082-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pregiwati Pusporini ◽  
Kazem Abhary ◽  
Lee H.S. Luong

Lean six-sigma methodology focuses on continuous improvement approach with an emphasis on improving the product quality and reducing waste. Recent studies of lean six-sigma methodology indicated that this methodology commonly focus on four areas of performance namely quality, cost time and service. In this paper, an environmental performance is proposed into lean six-sigma methodology. An environmental performance needs to be integrated into lean six-sigma as a new paradigm of lean six-sigma methodology to achieve overall competitiveness of product.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Adeel Shamsi ◽  
Aftab Alam

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present critical barriers and obstacles faced by Information Technology (IT) industry in the implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) as the business improvement methodology. Design/methodology/approach A literature review of peer-reviewed journal articles, master and doctoral theses, paradigmatic books with managerial impact and survey reports was used to identify distinct barriers. An empirical survey, using 400 self-administered questionnaires, was then conducted. Data about 11 LSS barriers from 256 usable questionnaires, with a response rate of 64 per cent, were collected and analyzed by means of statistical data analysis software. Findings The challenges of “part-time involvement in Lean Six Sigma projects”, “time consuming”, “staff turnover in middle of project”, “difficulty in data collection” and “difficulty in identifying project scope” emerged as the most critical barriers in the context of IT industry. This research work advocates the development of a strategy for addressing the most critical barrier instead of focusing on all for successful implementation. Originality/value This paper will prove to be a fantastic resource for many researchers and practitioners who are engaged in research and applications of LSS in the IT industry. Moreover, the scarcity of literature specific to LSS in IT industry will be addressed to some extent.


This paper presents the defect identification, defect reduction and continuous improvement in public road transportation by using lean six sigma methodologies. Lean methodologies will reduce the waste i.e. unnecessary efforts or tasks. The main aim of lean is to improve productivity i.e. to increase profit to the organization. The six sigma methodologies are centered towards the elimination of variations i.e. reduction of defects. The main objective of six sigma is 3.4 defects per million opportunities, whichlead to fulfilling the customer requirements. The six sigma tools arearithmeticaland statistical based. The lean mainly focused on the flow and the six sigma mainly focused on the problem. By combining, these two methodologies and implementing in public road transportation will leads to increase the profit of the organization and customer satisfaction. The results achieved by using DMAIC methodology and lean tools.


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