An integrated spherical fuzzy AHP multi-criteria method for Covid-19 crisis management in regarding lean six sigma

Abstract

PurposeThe Covid-19 pandemic has caused disruptions in many businesses. A difficult process has been experienced for businesses caught unprepared for this situation. The purpose of the study, the difficulties experienced in the business have been mapped in terms of crisis management.Design/methodology/approachFor this purpose, crisis management strategies have been discussed in terms of lean six sigma (LSS) strategies. Afterward, LSS strategies have been weighted with the spherical fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method, which has been recently introduced to the literature (Gündogdu and Kahraman, 2020). While weighting has been done with the spherical fuzzy AHP method, three experts in the field of LSS at the master blackbelt level have been studied.FindingsThe Covid-19 process has caused the usual processes of businesses to change. Businesses do not have enough time to adapt their business processes in the Covid-19 process. To eliminate waste and time in the Covid-19 process, the lean methodology was used. At the same time, quality deficiencies have been tried to be eliminated with the six sigma methodology. Therefore, the six sigma methodology and lean techniques should be considered together. With LSS, the adaptation of this process has been wanted to be accelerated. In this context, the criteria in the Covid-19 process were prioritized and losses were reduced in accordance with the LSS methodology. In this study, the most important criterion during the covid-19 pandemic has been determined as “responding to the changing needs of customers” and the least important criterion has been determined as “communication with stakeholders in enterprises.”Research limitations/implicationsThis study has been applied the Covid-19 pandemics. So, it has been evaluated related to these specific criteria.Practical implicationsCovid-19 crisis management was examined for the first time within the scope of the LSS methodology. The criteria in the Covid-19 process were determined by six sigma expert master black belts. For the first time, spherical fuzzy AHP, one of the multi-criteria decision methods, has been applied to the Covid-19 process.Originality/valueThis study has been aimed to create a roadmap to apply LSS steps in businesses against a possible second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, it is thought that the study will fill the following gaps in the literature: Covid-19 crisis management was examined for the first time within the scope of LSS methodology. The criteria in the Covid-19 process were determined by six sigma expert master black belts. For the first time, spherical fuzzy AHP, one of the multi-criteria decision methods, has been applied to the Covid-19 process.