Sigma Critical Success Factors Research Articles

Interpretive structural modeling of lean six sigma critical success factors in perspective of industry 4.0 for Indian manufacturing industries

Interpretive structural modeling of lean six sigma critical success factors in perspective of industry 4.0 for Indian manufacturing industries

Impact of Six Sigma critical success factors on productivity improvement through absorptive capacity in the manufacturing industry in Saudi Arabia

Previous studies have acknowledged the role of Six Sigma in productivity improvement, but the implication of absorptive capacity (ACAP) has yet to be fully addressed. Accordingly, this paper investigates the mediating effect of ACAP on the link between Six Sigma's critical success factors and productivity improvement. The hypothesised relationships were tested with data collected from quality managers in 167 manufacturing companies in Saudi Arabia. The result of PLS-SEM indicates that ACAP significantly mediates the influences of training and education, top management commitment and involvement, project selection and prioritisation and organisation resources on productivity improvement. However, the mediating effect of ACAP was not supported for the path between linking Six Sigma to business strategy and productivity improvement. Moreover, ACAP was significantly related to productivity improvement. The implications of our findings on the firm's productivity improvement and operation management literature were discussed, and the relevant suggestions were offered for future research.

Grey relational analysis of Green Lean Six Sigma critical success factors for improved organisational performance

Green Lean Six Sigma (GLS) is an eco-friendly approach that reduces ecological damages through reduced rejection, wastes, and rework. But it is essential to investigate the success factors of GLS that work as the first line of preparedness for the successful implementation of this sustainable approach. The current research deals with the identification and investigation of GLS success factors. Twenty-three GLS success factors have been identified from the literature pertaining to manufacturing and formulated into eight logical grouped or critical success factors using principal component analysis. The prioritisation of GLS critical success factors has been done through grey relational analysis by considering a case of the manufacturing industry. It has been found that management and finance-related are the most significant critical success factors with grey relational grades 0.6952 and 0.6682, respectively. The present study will facilitate the management of the manufacturing industries to implement GLS through systematic understanding and investigation of associated success factors.

Grey relational analysis of Green Lean Six Sigma critical success factors for improved organisational performance

Grey relational analysis of Green Lean Six Sigma critical success factors for improved organisational performance

Measuring Critical Success Factors for Six Sigma in Higher Education Institutions: Development and Validation of a Surveying Instrument

Critical success factors are key elements that enable the success of projects. This research work proposes the design and validation of an instrument to evaluate the implementation of six sigma critical success factors during improvement projects in higher education institutions. Eleven critical success factors were selected from the literature on the six sigma methodology, including managerial participation and commitment, six sigma linkage with the institutional strategy, six sigma linkage with suppliers, communication, and team member selection, among others. The instrument was validated among Mexican higher education institutions, from which 743 surveys were collected. Namely, the instrument was administered to experienced improvement project developers. Then, the collected data were analyzed, first by means of an exploratory factor analysis, and later with a confirmatory factor analysis using software program SPSS Amos R. Our results demonstrate that the proposed instrument is statistically valid, so it can be used by higher education institutions to evaluate how Six Sigma critical success factors are handled during improvement projects development. Similarly, the survey can help universities detect areas of opportunity when adopting the six sigma methodology and fit models to evaluate how critical success factors interact among them to achieve the expected results of improvement projects.

Impact of Six Sigma critical success factors on productivity improvement through absorptive capacity in the manufacturing industry in Saudi Arabia

Previous studies have acknowledged the role of Six Sigma in productivity improvement, but the implication of absorptive capacity (ACAP) has yet to be fully addressed. Accordingly, this paper investigates the mediating effect of ACAP on the link between Six Sigma's critical success factors and productivity improvement. The hypothesised relationships were tested with data collected from quality managers in 167 manufacturing companies in Saudi Arabia. The result of PLS-SEM indicates that ACAP significantly mediates the influences of training and education, top management commitment and involvement, project selection and prioritisation and organisation resources on productivity improvement. However, the mediating effect of ACAP was not supported for the path between linking Six Sigma to business strategy and productivity improvement. Moreover, ACAP was significantly related to productivity improvement. The implications of our findings on the firm's productivity improvement and operation management literature were discussed, and the relevant suggestions were offered for future research.

The underlying factorial structure and significance of the Six Sigma difficulties and critical success factors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the underlying structure (latent constructs) of the difficulties and critical success factors (CSFs) of Six Sigma implementation in manufacturing companies. Determining the significance Greek manufacturing companies give to the Six Sigma difficulties and CSFs is also an aim of the present study. Design/methodology/approach – A research study was carried out in 91 ISO 9001 certified Greek manufacturing companies through a structured questionnaire. Exploratory factor analyses are applied to determine the underlying structure (latent constructs) of the Six Sigma difficulties and CSFs, while their significance is determined through descriptive statistics. Findings – Three latent constructs of Six Sigma difficulties are extracted, namely, “implementation patterns of Six Sigma methodology”, “absence of human interest and support”, and “low quality management level”. These difficulties are not considered very significant by the sample companies. Three latent constructs of Six Sigma CSFs are also extracted, namely, “understanding the implementation patterns of Six Sigma and its interface with the company”, “company culture and organisation”, and “prioritising Six Sigma projects based on stakeholders and company performance”. The role of these critical factors for the success of Six Sigma is very significant, according to the sample companies. Research limitations/implications – The small sample of the responding manufacturing companies, the diversity of the business sectors represented in the sample, and the subjective business evidence obtained from the company quality managers are the main limitations of the present study. Based on these limitations, future research studies are suggested. Practical implications – By eliminating the negative influence of the difficulties and simultaneously by enhancing the positive influence of the CSFs, a robust internal business environment can be created for the successful implementation of Six Sigma. Originality/value – This study fills the literature gap and contributes to the literature by determining the underlying structure and the significance of the Six Sigma difficulties and CSFs. This is the first research study in the field of Six Sigma that has been carried out in ISO 9001 certified manufacturing companies operating in the Greek business environment.

Six Sigma critical success factors in Brazilian industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify critical success factors (CSFs) that are regarded as the most important in Six Sigma programs in Brazil and to compare these rankings with those in international literature. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of industrial companies was selected to complete a survey. In total, 104 questionnaires were obtained. The results were compared with a literature review consisting of 26 papers from 13 countries. In total, 70 CSFs were found in the papers, but 19 CSFs were analyzed and reduced to ten. A multivariate factor analysis further reduced this number to two underlying constructs. Findings – The authors identified a CSFs common denominator/ranking based on the sample of international articles. The authors found that there are four CSFs that are more prevalent in Brazil and in the international papers studied and that there are no differences between the importance of CSFs in terms of hierarchical levels. Three gaps, five levers and two CSFs constructs were identified. Social implications – This study may initiate cooperation between the studied companies and academia, thus possibly increasing these organization’ knowledge regarding Six Sigma. Originality/value – The originality of this study is that the survey was conducted with companies in Brazil, a country where little information exists on Six Sigma programs. The authors also contributed a literature review on CSFs, a comparison based on most of the consulted papers and the use of a robust methodological strategy that was made possible by the sample size.

Six Sigma's critical success factors and toolbox

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to put forward and classify the critical success factors (CSF) of Six Sigma implementation, as well as the tools‐techniques that it utilizes in all the phases of the Define‐Measure‐Analyze‐Improve‐Control (DMAIC) structured methodology.Design/methodology/approachA literature review of Six Sigma's CSF has been realized and also an attempt to connect them with the enablers of European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM). A literature review of the tools and techniques utilized follows and a categorization of them according to the phase of the DMAIC.FindingsThe paper has collected a list of 32 CSF which were classified according to the five EFQM enablers, and the soft‐hard differentiation. A list of 39 tools/techniques used in the different phases of DMAIC and the ISO 13053‐1 suggestions has also been referred.Originality/valueThe final classifications of CSF and techniques of Six Sigma methodology could be a valuable tool for Six Sigma academics and professionals to understand and implement the methodology in the appropriate way.

Linking Six Sigma's critical success/hindering factors and organizational change (development)

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish a link between Six Sigma and organizational change theory. Specifically, a framework that aligns Six Sigma critical success/hindering factors and the antecedents of successful organizational change process.Design/methodology/approachA theory‐derived framework containing Six Sigma's critical success and hindering factors at each stage of Lewinian change process is first proposed. Then, the framework is compared against the findings from a case study of Six Sigma improvement project in a UK, make‐to‐order, small to medium‐sized enterprise (SME).FindingsThere is a great deal of congruence (consistency) between Six Sigma's critical success factors and the antecedents of successful organizational change. Addressing people's “soft” skills (e.g. commitment, involvement, and communication) is necessary to “unfreeze” the equilibrium. The actual change and confrontation, which occur during “move” stage, requires a combination of both “software” and “hardware” of the organization (i.e. teamwork, methods/tools, organizational structure and culture). It is important for SMEs to provide resources during the “freeze” stage and justify the benefits of change, in order to sustain the change efforts.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was based on a single case of Six Sigma improvement project. However, future research will be conducted as a longitudinal study, to capture richer insights from the change process.Originality/valueThis paper offers a practical overview of how Six Sigma can be utilized as a change driver in SMEs and the enablers and barriers of success to be considered, especially during the early stage of adoption.

An analysis of critical success factors for Six Sigma implementation

Purpose – The success of Six Sigma implementation is known to depend on a number of critical factors. The purpose of this paper is to explore and analyse Six Sigma critical success factors (CSFs) in the context of Indian manufacturing organizations.Design/methodology/approach – Although Six Sigma success factors have been amply researched in the global context, in this paper, a maiden attempt is made to identify, through an extensive literature review, the CSFs for Six Sigma implementation followed by their validation and prioritization using primary data collection from Indian companies. A total of 22 CSFs have thus been compiled through an extensive literature review. These CSFs are then validated through an empirical research of select Indian manufacturing companies at various stages of implementation of the Six Sigma process improvement methodology.Findings – A factor analysis was used to finally reduce the 22 factors to seven groups of underlying CSFs, the top factors being use of right tools, measur...

Innovation quality management in public sector research and development organizations: Application of six sigma methodology

Measuring and managing six sigma critical success factors (CSF) is required for organizational alignment and optimization to its perceived goals. This research explores the key aspects of CSF public sector R and D organizations (PSRDO) which seem consistent for breakthrough improvement through six sigma. This paper proposes a framework to integrate innovation ability and quality management (Six Sigma) into a framework for enhancing and improving innovation quality in public sector research and development organizations. Twenty-three critical variables for implementing Six-Sigma were identified through documentary investigation, brainstorming and Delphi methods. The relevance rating and rank of these variables were computed from the response of 195 and 240 scientists in two sets. Following hierarchical cluster analysis these 23 variables were grouped in to five critical successes factors. A framework encompassing these five factors is proposed for institutionalizing Six Sigma approach in PSRDO to foster innovation quality and productivity.

An empirical study about the effect of Six Sigma CSFs on quality and cost

The number of companies that have adopted Six Sigma has been increasing continuously because of the importance of quality management. Since the introduction of Six Sigma in 1996, many service and manufacturing companies in Korea have taken advantage of it though some failed to implement it. At this time, an empirical study of Six Sigma will be helpful in the examination of the current status of Six Sigma implementation in Korea. This study investigates the Six Sigma critical success factors (CSFs) that are most widely used in Korea. These are broken down into eight factors: business strategy, management involvement, culture change, communication, organisation infrastructure, resource investment, training and understanding Six Sigma tools. Quality improvement and total cost reduction are used as performance variables. The relationship of CSFs to the performance variables is modelled using the structural equation modelling (SEM) and the hypotheses of the relationship are tested.

An empirical investigation into Six Sigma critical success factors

This pilot research explores the critical success factors of Six Sigma to gain insight into the gaps between Six Sigma theory and execution, and to understand the primary drivers of financial improvements. The findings demonstrate the key aspects that seem to be consistent among Six Sigma organisations. Results show organisations cite Six Sigma for cost reduction, notoriety of its success and increased revenues. Chi-square analyses indicate gaps exist between theory and actual practice across the three critical success factors of team selection, project selection and project implementation. A larger percent of respondents agree on the criticality of key tasks/issues, yet fewer companies execute them in practice. Regression results demonstrate the factors of team selection and project selection significantly impact the financial improvement performance of the responding organisations. These results are beneficial for researchers investigating Six Sigma, business leaders considering its implementation and for existing companies seeking to achieve even greater improvement gains.