An integrated lean production-sustainability framework for evaluation and improvement of the performance of pharmaceutical factory

Abstract

Given their direct impact on public health, evaluating and improving the performance of pharmaceutical companies are one of the main challenges for the managers of this industry. Focusing on environmental, social, and economic considerations, sustainability can play an effective role along with Lean production in improving the performance of organizations. The present study introduces an innovative lean-production-sustainability framework for performance evaluation of a pharmaceutical factory. Then, the significance of each sub-indicator is calculated based on the best-worst method (BWM). The required data were collected using a standard questionnaire, and the data envelopment analysis (DEA) was employed to assess the performance of the production line of the case-study company in Tehran. Using sensitivity analysis to understand the positive and/or negative impact of each sub-indicator on the production line performance leads to the generation of appropriate improvement measures. The results of sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the sub-indicators of Investment and reduction of operation and maintenance costs, training, development, working conditions, customer orientation, and standard product are the weaknesses of the studied company, and the sub-indicators of waste reduction and pull system are its strengths. Then, with the assistance of the expert committee and based on existing threats and opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry, the results of the conducted Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat (SWOT) analysis provided appropriate strategies for improving the performance of the production unit. To the best of our knowledge, this research is the first to quantitatively and qualitatively use these indicators in order to evaluate a pharmaceutical company. The proposed framework enables the decision-makers to consistently evaluate their company's performance based on the two indicators of sustainability and lean production and implement improvement measures according to the present situation of the company.