TY - JOUR
T1 - Implementation of continuous improvement based on Lean Six Sigma in small- and medium-sized enterprises
AU - Timans, Werner
AU - Ahaus, Kees
AU - van Solingen, Rini
AU - Kumar, Maneesh
AU - Antony, Jiju
PY - 2014/11/18
Y1 - 2014/11/18
N2 - Research has highlighted a need for a specific and practical implementation framework for deploying Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The success of LSS implementation in SMEs is highly dependent on the extent to which an LSS deployment programme addresses the specific properties of SMEs. In this study we have evaluated an existing framework for Six Sigma implementation for SMEs [Kumar, M., Antony, J., & Tiwari, M. K. (2011). Six Sigma implementation framework for SMEs – a roadmap to manage and sustain the change. International Journal of Production Research, 49(18), 5449–5467] using a multi-method triangulation approach. The objectives of this study were firstly to strengthen the foundations of the existing framework by uncovering evidence for some of its elements and, secondly, to identify the proposed revisions to the framework, especially focussed on its application in manufacturing SMEs. The results of our study are a collection of confirmations and revision proposals for the framework, leading to a revised conceptual framework.
AB - Research has highlighted a need for a specific and practical implementation framework for deploying Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The success of LSS implementation in SMEs is highly dependent on the extent to which an LSS deployment programme addresses the specific properties of SMEs. In this study we have evaluated an existing framework for Six Sigma implementation for SMEs [Kumar, M., Antony, J., & Tiwari, M. K. (2011). Six Sigma implementation framework for SMEs – a roadmap to manage and sustain the change. International Journal of Production Research, 49(18), 5449–5467] using a multi-method triangulation approach. The objectives of this study were firstly to strengthen the foundations of the existing framework by uncovering evidence for some of its elements and, secondly, to identify the proposed revisions to the framework, especially focussed on its application in manufacturing SMEs. The results of our study are a collection of confirmations and revision proposals for the framework, leading to a revised conceptual framework.
KW - framework
KW - Lean Six Sigma
KW - SMEs
KW - sustainable implementation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84959232556&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14783363.2014.980140
DO - 10.1080/14783363.2014.980140
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84959232556
VL - 27
SP - 309
EP - 324
JO - Total Quality Management and Business Excellence
JF - Total Quality Management and Business Excellence
SN - 1478-3363
IS - 3-4
ER -