Case Study: Improvement Using Lean Six Sigma

2016 ◽  
pp. 187-201
Keyword(s):  
Six Sigma ◽  
Lean Six Sigma

Business survival and market performance through Lean Six Sigma in the chemical manufacturing industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 566-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Muganyi ◽  
Ignatio Madanhire ◽  
Charles Mbohwa
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Market Performance ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Chemical Product ◽  
Business Survival ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chemical Manufacturing ◽  
Product Manufacturing

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.

scholarly journals Application of Lean Six Sigma to Improve Service in Healthcare Facilities Management: A Case Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Will T. Shirey ◽  
Kenneth Timothy Sullivan ◽  
Brian Lines ◽  
Jake Smithwick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Healthcare Organization ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Facilities Management ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Computerized Maintenance Management System

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to present a case study on the application of the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) quality improvement methodology to facilities management (FM) services at a healthcare organization. Research literature was reviewed concerning whether or not LSS has been applied in healthcare-based FM, but no such studies have been published. This paper aims to address the lack of an applicable methodology for LSS intervention within the context of healthcare-based FM. The Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control (DMAIC) framework was followed to test the hypothesis that LSS can improve the service provided by an FM department responsible for the maintenance and repair of furniture and finishes at a large healthcare organization in the southwest United States of America. Quality improvement curricula and resources offered by the case study organization equipped the FM department to apply LSS over the course of a five-month period. Qualitative data were gathered from pre- and post-intervention surveys while quantitative data were gathered with the Organization's computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) software. Overall, LSS application proved to be useful for the intended purpose. The authors proposes that application of LSS by other FM departments to improve their services could also be successful, which is noteworthy and deserving of continued research.

Lean Six Sigma strategy in telecom manufacturing

2014 ◽  
Vol 114 (6) ◽  
pp. 904-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy Andersson ◽  
Per Hilletofth ◽  
Peter Manfredsson ◽  
Olli-Pekka Hilmola
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Strategic Emphasis ◽  
Company Culture ◽  
Difficult Times ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to elaborate, how the use of a joint-use strategy of Lean and Six Sigma can improve flexibility, robustness, and agility. Telecom manufacturing has been under tremendous change after dot.com bubble burst in the early 2000, and new competition has originated from Asia. Being successful requires now more than before, and joint-use of strategies is one option to survive. Design/methodology/approach – A single case study from a Swedish company operating in the telecom manufacturing was conducted. In particular, a Six Sigma project was followed and analyzed during 2002. However, the outcome of the Six Sigma project has been studied in longitudinal manner until 2014. Findings – The Lean Six Sigma strategy ensures flexible, robust, and efficient processes. However, to make them more agile in order to sustain in today's highly competitive environment, something more is required. This could include staff training, strengthening company culture and collaborating with key partners in the supply chain. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited to large company that usually has a lot of resources and choices where to put the strategic emphasis as well as has level of control of the supply chain operations. The situation could be very different in small and medium-sized companies and thus it may be more difficult to realize the Lean Six Sigma strategy in such environment. On the other hand, the processes in these companies are often less complex. Practical implications – This research provides guidance on how to manage the Lean Six Sigma strategy in order to ensure more flexible, robust, and efficient processes as well as how to perform a Six Sigma project in Lean environment, in a proper manner. Originality/value – This research provides guidance to companies regarding the applicability and properties of the Lean Six Sigma strategy. The paper will also serve as a basis for other companies and industries, on how to survive in difficult times.

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