Share:


Towards sustainability through Green, Lean and Six Sigma integration at service industry: review and framework

    Rodrigo Caiado   Affiliation
    ; Daniel Nascimento Affiliation
    ; Osvaldo Quelhas Affiliation
    ; Guilherme Tortorella Affiliation
    ; Luis Rangel Affiliation

Abstract

In the last decades, sustainable development has increasingly gained importance to service industry and the integration between Green, Lean and Six Sigma approaches in service systems is necessary in order to balance the need for operational efficiency with environmental commitment and social fairness. Because of that, the purpose of this paper is to critically review the Lean and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodologies and highlight their importance to achieve sustainable services. To do this, a systematic literature review of the subjects under investigation was conducted. The study has two major contributions. First, it is one of the first researches that examine the compatibility and divergences of Green, Lean and Six Sigma concepts and implications regarding its sustainable implementation in service industry. Second, it provides a holistic Green LSS framework attempting to help practitioners to find ways of institutionalizing it in numerous kinds of services, by pointing out nine critical factors for its implementation, such as continuous customer satisfaction, ethical relations and regulatory compliance, focus on knowledge management and human behaviors, and effective Jidoka automation. The proposed framework indicates new paradigms and pathways to achieve the balance in technical, economic, social and environmental priorities in services.

Keyword : Lean thinking, Lean Six Sigma (LSS), organizational sustainability, sustainable development, service industry, systematic literature review (SLR)

How to Cite
Caiado, R., Nascimento, D., Quelhas, O., Tortorella, G., & Rangel, L. (2018). Towards sustainability through Green, Lean and Six Sigma integration at service industry: review and framework. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 24(4), 1659-1678. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2018.3119
Published in Issue
Aug 28, 2018
Abstract Views
4962
PDF Downloads
3647
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Abdi, F., Shavarini, S. K., & Hoseini. S. M. S. (2006). Glean lean: how to use lean approach in service industries?. Journal of Services Research, 6, 191-206.

Adeyemi, A., Martin, D., & Kasim, R. (2017). The relevance of lean thinking to sustainable improvement of public office buildings in Nigeria. Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 12(6), 1365-1376.

Albliwi, S. A., Antony, J., & Lim, S. A. H. (2015). A systematic review of Lean Six Sigma for the manufacturing industry. Business Process Management Journal, 21(3), 665-691. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-03-2014-0019

Andersson, R., Hilletofth, P., Manfredsson, P., Hilmola, O. P. (2014). Lean Six Sigma strategy in telecom manufacturing. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 114(6), 904-921. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-02-2014-0069

Antony, J.; Escamilla, J. L.; Caine, P. (2003). Lean Sigma. Manufacturing Engineer, 82(2), 40-42. https://doi.org/10.1049/me:20030203

Antony, J. (2004). Six Sigma in the UK service organisations: results from a pilot survey. Managerial Auditing Journal, 19(8), 1006-1013. https://doi.org/10.1108/02686900410557908

Antony, J., Kumar, M., & Cho, B. R. (2007). Six Sigma in service organizations: benefits, challenges, difficulties, common myths and success factors. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 24(2), 294-311. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656710710730889

Azevedo, S. G., Carvalho, H., Duarte, S., & Cruz-Machado, V. (2012). Influence of green and lean upstream supply chain management practices on business sustainability. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 59(4), 753-765. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2012.2189108

Aziz, R. F., & Hafez, S. M. (2013). Applying lean thinking in construction and performance improvement. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 52(4), 679-695.

Beasley, G., & Rosseel, T. (2016). Leaning into sustainability at University of Alberta Libraries. Library Management, 37(3), 136-148. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-04-2016-0023

Caiado, R. G. G., Dias, R. F., Mattos, L. V., Quelhas, O. L. G., & Leal Filho, W. (2017). Towards sustainable development through the perspective of eco- efficiency – a systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 165, 890-904. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.07.166

Camuffo, A., De Stefano, F., Paolino, C. (2017). Safety reloaded: lean operations and high involvement work practices for sustainable workplaces. Journal of Business Ethics, 245-259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2590-8

Cherrafi, A., Elfezazi, S., Chiarini, A., Mokhlis, A., & Benhida, K. (2016). The integration of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma and sustainability: a literature review and future research directions for developing a specific model. Journal of Cleaner Production, 139, 828-846. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.08.101

Cherrafi, A., Elfezazi, S., Govindan, K., Garza-Reyes, J. A., Benhida, K., & Mokhlis, A. (2017). A framework for the integration of Green and Lean Six Sigma for superior sustainability performance. International Journal of Production Research, (March), 1-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2016.1266406

Chiarini, A. (2014). Sustainable manufacturing-greening processes using specific lean production tools: an empirical observation from European motorcycle component manufacturers. Journal of Cleaner Production, 85, 226-233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.07.080

Chugani, N., Kumar, V., Garza-Reyes, J. A., Rocha-Lona, L., & Upadhyay, A. (2017). Investigating the green impact of Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 8(1), 7-32. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-11-2015-0043

Comm, C. L., & Mathaisel, D. F. X. (2005). A case study in applying lean sustainability concepts to universities. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 6(2), 134-146. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370510589855

Comm, C. L., & Mathaisel, D. F. X. (2003). Less is more: a framework for a sustainable university. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 4(4), 314-323. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370310497543

Dhingra, R., Kress, R., & Upreti, G. (2014). Does Lean mean Green? Journal of Cleaner Production, 85, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.10.032

Duarte, S., & Cruz-Machado, V. (2009). Modelling lean and green: a review from business models. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 4(3), 1-23. Retrieved from http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/IJLSS-05-2013-0030

Dües, C. M., Tan, K. H., & Lim, M. (2013). Green as the new lean: how to use lean practices as a catalyst to greening your supply chain. Journal of Cleaner Production, 40, 93-100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.12.023

Fercoq, A., Lamouri, S., & Carbone, V. (2016). Lean/green integration focused on waste reduction techniques. Journal of Cleaner Production, 137, 567-578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.07.107

Ferguson, D. (2007). Lean and six sigma: the same or different?. Management Services, 51(3), 12-13.

Folinas, D., Aidonis, D., Triantafillou, D., & Malindretos, G. (2013). Exploring the greening of the food supply chain with lean thinking techniques. Procedia Technology, 8, 416-424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.protcy.2013.11.054

Folinas, D., Aidonis, D., Malindretos, G., Voulgarakis, N., & Triantafillou, D. (2014). Greening the agrifood supply chain with lean thinking practices. International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 10(January), 129-145. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJARGE.2014.063580

Franchetti, M. J. (2015). Lean six sigma for engineers and managers: with applied case studies. CRC Press.

Furukawa, P. D. O., Cunha, I. C. K. O., & Pedreira, M. D. L. G. (2016). Evaluation of environmentally sustainable actions in the medication process. Revista brasileira de enfermagem, 69(1), 23-29. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167.2016690103i

Garza-Reyes, J. A. (2015a). Green lean and the need for Six Sigma. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 6(3), 226-248. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-04-2014-0010

Garza-Reyes, J. A. (2015b). Lean and green – a systematic review of the state of the art literature. Journal of Cleaner Production, 102, 18-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.04.064

George, M. L. (2002). Lean Six Sigma: combining Six Sigma quality with lean speed. McGraw-Hill, NewYork, NY.

George, M. L. (2003). Lean six sigma for service. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Goffnett, S. P., Lepisto, L., & Hayes, R. (2016). Using the socio-economic approach to management to augment Lean Six Sigma. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 65(1), 80-97. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-02-2014-0028

Gupta, S., Sharma, M., & Sunder M. V. (2016). Lean services: a systematic review. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 65(8), 1025-1056. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-02-2015-0032

Gutierrez-Gutierrez, L., de Leeuw, S., & Dubbers, R. (2016). Logistics services and Lean Six Sigma implementation: a case study. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 7(3), 324-342. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-05-2015-0019

Haddach, A., Ammari, M., & Laglaoui, A. (2016). Role of lean, environmental and social practices to increasing firm’ s overall performance. Journal of Materials and Environmental Science, 7(2).

Hallam, C., & Contreras, C. (2016). Integrating lean and green management. Management Decision, 54(9), 2157-2187. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-04-2016-0259

Hilton, R. J., & Sohal, A. (2012). A conceptual model for the successful deployment of Lean Six Sigma. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 29(1), 54-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656711211190873

Jadhav, J. R., Mantha, S. S., & Rane, S. B. (2014). Development of framework for sustainable lean implementation: an ISM approach. Journal of Industrial Engineering International, 10(3), 72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40092-014-0072-8

Kumar, S., Luthra, S., Govindan, K., Kumar, N., & Haleem, A. (2016). Barriers in green lean six sigma product development process: an ISM approach. Production Planning and Control, 27(7-8), 604-620. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2016.1165307

Kurdve, M., Zackrisson, M., Wiktorsson, M., & Harlin, U. (2014). Lean and green integration into production system models–experiences from Swedish industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 85, 180-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.04.013

Laureani, A., & Antony, J. (2012). Critical success factors for the effective implementation of Lean Sigma: results from an empirical study and agenda for future research. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 3(4), 274-283.

León, H. C. M., & Calvo-Amodio, J. (2017). Towards lean for sustainability: understanding the interrelationships between lean and sustainability from a systems thinking perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142, 4384-4402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.132

Levitt, T. (1972). Production line approach to service. Harvard Business Review, 50(5), 32-43.

Lozano, R., Suzuki, M., Carpenter, A., & Tyunina, O. (2017). An analysis of the contribution of Japanese business terms to corporate sustainability: learnings from the ‘Looking-Glass’ of the East. Sustainability, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9020188

Lubowe, D., & Blitz, A. (2008). Driving operational innovation using Lean Six Sigma. Business Performance Management, 6(3), 10-15.

Manville, G., Greatbanks, R., Krishnasamy, R., & Parker, D. W. (2012). Critical success factors for Lean Six Sigma programmes: a view from middle management. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, 29(1), 7-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/02656711211190846

Manzouri, M., Ab-Rahman, M. N., Zain, C. R. C. M., & Jamsari, E. A. (2014). Increasing production and eliminating waste through lean tools and techniques for Halal food companies. Sustainability (Switzerland), 6(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/su6129179

Martínez León, H. C., & Calvo-Amodio, J. (2017). Towards lean for sustainability: understanding the interrelationships between lean and sustainability from a systems thinking perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142, 4384-4402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.11.132

Nicoletti, B. (2013). Lean Six Sigma and digitize procurement. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 4(2), 184-203. https://doi.org/10.1108/20401461311319356

Parast, M. M. (2011). The effect of Six Sigma projects on innovation and firm performance. International Journal of Project Management, 29(1), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2010.01.006

Powell, D., Lundeby, S., Chabada, L., & Dreyer, H. (2017). Lean Six Sigma and environmental sustainability: the case of a Norwegian dairy producer. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 8(1), 53-64. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-06-2015-0024

Popa, A., Ramos, R., Cover, A. B., & Popa, C. G. (2005, January). Integration of artificial intelligence and lean sigma for large field production optimization: application to Kern River Field. SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. Society of Petroleum Engineers.

Psychogios, A. G., & Tsironis, L. K. (2012). Towards an integrated framework for Lean Six Sigma application: lessons from the airline industry. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 23(4), 397-415. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2011.637787

Ranky, P. G., & Kalaba, O. (2012). Sustainable lean six-sigma green engineering system design educational challenges and interactive multimedia solutions. 2012 IEEE International Symposium on Sustainable Systems and Technology (ISSST), IEEE (pp. 1-6). https://doi.org/10.1109/ISSST.2012.6227999

Ratnayake, R. M. C., & Chaudry, O. (2017). Maintaining sustainable performance in operating petroleum assets via a lean-six-sigma approach. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 8(1), 33-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-11-2015-0042

Ray, S., & John, B. (2011). Lean Six-Sigma application in business process outsourced organization. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 2(4), 371-380. https://doi.org/10.1108/20401461111189443

Ryerson, M. S., & Kim, H. (2014). The impact of airline mergers and hub reorganization on aviation fuel consumption. Journal of Cleaner Production, 85, 395-407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.12.032

Saieg, P., Dominguez, E., Nascimento, D., & Caiado, G. G. C. (2018). Interactions of building information modeling, lean and sustainability on the architectural, engineering and construction industry: a systematic review. Journal of Cleaner Production, 174, 788-806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.030

Suárez-Barraza, M. F., Smith, T., & Dahlgaard-Park, S. M. (2012). Lean service: a literature analysis and classification. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 23(3-4), 359-380. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2011.637777

De Soete, W. (2016). Towards a multidisciplinary approach on creating value: sustainability through the supply chain and ERP Systems. Systems, 4(1), 16. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems4010016

Timans, W., Antony, J., Ahaus, K., & van Solingen, R. (2012). Implementation of Lean Six Sigma in small-and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in the Netherlands. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 63(3), 339-353. https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.2011.47

Tortorella, G. L., Vergara, L. G. L., & Ferreira, E. P. (2017). Lean manufacturing implementation: an assessment method with regards to socio-technical and ergonomics practices adoption. International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 89, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-016-9227-7

Tsironis, L. K., & Psychogios, A. (2016). Road towards Lean Six Sigma in service industry: a multifactor integrated framework. Business Process Management Journal, 22(4), 812-834. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-08-2015-0118

Ugarte, G. M., Golden, J. S., & Dooley, K. J. (2016). Lean versus green: the impact of lean logistics on greenhouse gas emissions in consumer goods supply chains. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 22(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2015.09.002

Verrier, B., Rose, B., Caillaud, E., & Remita, H. (2014). Combining organizational performance with sustainable development issues: the lean and green project benchmarking repository. Journal of Cleaner Production, 85, 83-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.12.023

Vijaya Sunder, M. (2016). Rejects reduction in a retail bank using Lean Six Sigma. Production Planning & Control, 27(14), 1131-1142. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2016.1187312

Wang, F. K., & Chen, K. S. (2012). Application of Lean Six Sigma to a panel equipment manufacturer. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 23(3-4), 417-429. https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2011.593876

Wei, C. C., Sheen, G. J., Tai, C. T., & Lee, K. L. (2010). Using Six Sigma to improve replenishment process in a direct selling company. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 15(1), 3-9. https://doi.org/10.1108/13598541011018076

Wiese, A., Luke, R., Heyns, G. J., & Pisa, N. M. (2015). The integration of lean, green and best practice business principles. Journal of Transport and Supply Chain Management, 9(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.4102/jtscm.v9i1.192

Wong, W. P., & Wong, K. Y. (2014). Synergizing an ecosphere of lean for sustainable operations. Journal of Cleaner Production, 85, 51-66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.05.093

Zhan, Y., Tan, K. H., Ji, G., Chung, L., & Chiu, A. S. F. (2015). Green and lean sustainable development path in China: Guanxi, practices and performance. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 128, 240-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2016.02.006