A methodical literature review on application of Lean & Six Sigma in various industries

ABSTRACT

Lean Six Sigma is a data-driven and fact-based philosophy which helps to prevent the value defects over the detection of defects for better quality and improvements. Lean Six Sigma helps in achieving satisfaction of customer and core results by reducing waste, altering or variation in process, process cycle time, by the use of standardisation and flow and thus creates the competitive advantage for organisations. Lean Six Sigma is applicable at the place where variation and waste exist, and all employee or company staff should be involved. Lean Six Sigma is a combination of ‘Lean’ and ‘Six Sigma’. Six Sigma helps to reduce the process variation whereas Lean helps to eliminate or reduce waste. Thereby, the principles of Lean Six Sigma help to improve the efficiency and quality of the process. This has been empirically investigated by various researchers. In this paper, an endeavour has been made to systematically compile the work carried out by the researchers in the area of Lean six sigma and Lean Manufacturing and its impact on Organisational Performance. Moreover, future research aspects in the Lean manufacturing scenario have also been explored.

Abbreviations: SS: Six Sigma; LSS: Lean Six Sigma; LM: lean manufacturing; LT: lean tools; LP: lean production; TQM: total quality management; PDCA: plan do check act; TPM: total productive maintenance; OEE: overall equipment efficiency; SMED: single minute exchange of dies; FMEA: failure mode effective analysis; JIT: just-in-time; CELLMFG: cell manufacturing; DOE: design of experiment; DPMO: defects per millions opportunity; ANOVA: analysis of variance; DMAIC: define measure analyse improve control; VSM: value stream mapping

KEYWORDS:

• Lean
• Six Sigma
• productivity improvement
• lean product development

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amitkumar Dhanjibhai Makwana

Amitkumar Dhanjibhai Makwana is currently a Ph.D. student at CHAMOS Matrusanstha Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chandubhai S Patel Institute of Technology Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT) Changa. He received his Master of Engineering in Advanced Manufacturing System from Gujarat University India in 2017 and his Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from Gujarat University in 2015. He is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. His research interests includes Plastic industry, lean manufacturing, Total Quality Management, Production Engineering, Production Management, Six sigma, Industrial engineering, Process improvement, and business excellence.

Gajanan Shankarrao Patange

Dr. Gajanan Shankarrao Patange is Assistant Professor and Workshop superintendent at CHAMOS Matrusanstha Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chandubhai S Patel Institute of Technology Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT) Changa). He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Charotar University of Science & Technology (CHARUSAT) India in 2016. He received the B.E. degree in Mechanical engineering from the Amravati University, Maharashtra, India, in 1997, and the M.Tech. Degree in Industrial engineering and Management from the SGSITS Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India, in 2006 respectively. He has published more than 40 papers at national as well as international levels in a journal as well as conferences. His research interests includes Foundry Technology, Production Systems, and Environmental conscious Design and Manufacturing, cleaner production techniques, sustainable design, quality control, lean manufacturing, Six sigma, Occupational health and safety, Outcome bases education and Industrial engineering.