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Article
Publication date: 9 December 2019

Investigating the view of quality management success factors amongst future early career operations leaders

Alireza Shokri

The study aims to investigate the gap between the current vision and knowledge of future early career operations leaders (OL) and common strategic total quality management…

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Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the gap between the current vision and knowledge of future early career operations leaders (OL) and common strategic total quality management (TQM) frameworks such as Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Awards and competing value framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was developed for different groups of participants as current higher education students to identify the gap and analyse the significance of these groups on the factors in TQM framework. The Kruskal–Wallis test as the non-parametric quantitative analysis technique was adopted for this study.

Findings

A new set of TQM factors with necessity of more knowledge and understanding of future generation was identified, followed by highlighting clear differences amongst different groups of this generation in terms of their demographic measures, perceived leadership style and organisational culture.

Research limitations/implications

This research study contributed significantly to the existing study about common QM models and their integration with theories relevant to organisational culture and leadership. The data collection can be extended further in the higher education sector or beyond that.

Practical implications

A sustainable operations leadership practice needs managers and leaders with a sustainable knowledge development of quality management; and as a result of this study, the current vision of future young OL would not echo this.

Originality/value

This study has a systematic, non-parametric approach towards currently fragmented QM analysis, and is integrated with human resource and visionary elements of future young OL and universal QM models and theories.

Details

International Journal of Quality and Service Sciences, vol. 11 no. 4
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQSS-02-2019-0027
ISSN: 1756-669X

Keywords

  • Total quality management
  • Quality management
  • Operation management
  • Leadership behaviours

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Article
Publication date: 2 May 2017

Quantitative analysis of Six Sigma, Lean and Lean Six Sigma research publications in last two decades

Alireza Shokri

The purpose of this paper is to extend previous studies to a hybrid analysis of three business improvement practices of Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) within…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend previous studies to a hybrid analysis of three business improvement practices of Lean, Six Sigma and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) within last two decades and identify the research gaps and focusses in more comprehensive and robust classification framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A secondary data collection and a literature review were conducted to collect information about peer-reviewed journal articles under six dimensions of a tested classification framework. The frequency and distribution analysis was conducted followed by Pearson’s χ2 test to analyse any relationship between dimensions of framework in order to identify the gap.

Findings

Despite a relatively great deal of regular research outputs about Six Sigma, Lean and LSS, academic journal articles have been found mainly limited to a few industries, themes and countries. “General manufacturing”, “healthcare”, “automotive” and “electronic industries” as sectors; and “tools and techniques”, “benefits” and “success factors” as key themes have been mostly approached by LSS, Six Sigma and lean management articles. It was also found that there is still a great disparity amongst researchers and journals to publish about these three business improvement practices.

Research limitations/implications

The research publications for LSS, Six Sigma and lean management should have wider approach towards various manufacturing and service sectors, countries and journal publications. A greater level of research/enterprise activities has been found in relation to LSS and Six Sigma articles compared to lean management articles.

Originality/value

This research aims to identify the gaps in research publications during last two decades about three major business improvement practices in one package and through more comprehensive robust classification framework and also through comparative analysis.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 34 no. 5
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-07-2015-0096
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

  • Six Sigma
  • Lean Six Sigma
  • Lean management
  • Research publications

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Article
Publication date: 11 January 2021

Scoping review of the readiness for sustainable implementation of Lean Six Sigma projects in the manufacturing sector

Alireza Shokri, Jiju Antony, Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes and Michelle Upton

This work presents a synthesis of current literature published from 2010 to provide an overall understanding of the sustainable implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS…

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Abstract

Purpose

This work presents a synthesis of current literature published from 2010 to provide an overall understanding of the sustainable implementation of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) projects in terms of project approaches rather than outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive and validated ten-step model was applied to conduct a scoping review with the following three broad phases: “review planning”, “review execution” and “review reporting”.

Findings

The analysis shows that while a few geographically and methodologically broad research studies have been conducted on LSS and green manufacturing integration, no studies have examined organisational culture or conducted readiness assessments on the sustainable implementation of LSS projects in the manufacturing sector.

Research limitations/implications

The present study contributes to existing knowledge by describing the current state of research on green LSS integration. The study also identifies a lack of research on the deployment of sustainable LSS projects for manufacturers. Further empirical analyses that include case studies must be conducted to assess the negative environmental impacts of LSS projects.

Originality/value

This study serves as an initial call for practitioners and research scholars to favour the sustainable deployment of LSS projects in manufacturing alongside the use of traditional approaches with a focus on costs, quality and delivery.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-08-2020-0261
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

  • Lean Six Sigma
  • Green manufacturing
  • Organisational culture
  • Scoping review
  • Systematic literature review

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Article
Publication date: 18 February 2020

Green implementation of Lean Six Sigma projects in the manufacturing sector

Alireza Shokri and Gendao Li

Historically, Lean Six Sigma (LSS) implementation has demonstrated a great deal of enhancement to process efficiency, profitability and customer satisfaction. The emerging…

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Abstract

Purpose

Historically, Lean Six Sigma (LSS) implementation has demonstrated a great deal of enhancement to process efficiency, profitability and customer satisfaction. The emerging market pressure for developing better quality, cheaper and greener products invokes a change of view in LSS economical effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to identify under which condition the final output of LSS projects with traditional strategic benefits are more environmentally friendly.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the choice of different types of LSS projects, the environmental impact under different conditions and the comparison of those conditions, the author developed an analytical mathematical model and analysed four different propositions.

Findings

The final price and production volume were recommended as mediating factors to leverage an LSS project to achieve a greener, customised and finance-oriented outputs.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributes to existing LSS research and knowledge development via promoting the different perspectives of LSS and environmental sustainability integration.

Practical implications

This study further enables managers to identify the cut-off point in relation to the production volume and finished prices to leverage the expected financial outputs and environmental impact of the LSS project. This would potentially promote a green LSS project in both implementation and output, alongside its traditional values.

Originality/value

This study uses a modelling approach to identify the conditions under which the actual methodology of the LSS project could be green via less energy consumption with consideration of expected LSS values and outcomes.

Details

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, vol. 11 no. 4
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-12-2018-0138
ISSN: 2040-4166

Keywords

  • Lean Six Sigma
  • Energy consumption
  • Green manufacturing
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Mathematical modelling

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Article
Publication date: 4 February 2019

Quality management vision of future early career operations managers

Alireza Shokri and Farhad Nabhani

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the gap between the current vision and knowledge of future early career operations managers (OM) and a common strategic total…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the gap between the current vision and knowledge of future early career operations managers (OM) and a common strategic total quality management (TQM) framework.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire and a non-parametric test for different groups of participants were adopted to identify the gap and analyse the significance of these groups on the factors in the TQM framework.

Findings

A new set of TQM factors with the necessity of more knowledge and understanding of future generation were identified, followed by the identification of clear differences amongst different groups of this generation.

Practical implications

A sustainable OM practice needs managers and leaders with a sustainable knowledge development of quality management (QM); and as the result of this study, the current vision of future young OM would not echo this.

Originality/value

This study has a systematic, non-parametric approach towards currently fragmented QM analysis, and is integrated with human resource and visionary elements of future young OM and universal QM models and theories.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 36 no. 2
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-06-2017-0114
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

  • Human resource management
  • Operations management
  • Quality management
  • Early year professionals
  • MBNQA model
  • Non-parametric test

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Article
Publication date: 16 April 2018

Purchasing manages and optimises existing product variance

Farhad Nabhani, Christian Josef Uhl, Florian Kauf and Alireza Shokri

The purpose of this paper is to present a new optimisation approach for product variance from the purchasing perspective.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new optimisation approach for product variance from the purchasing perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on a case study of a collaboration with a global acting automotive Tier 1 supplier, who produces steering systems for cars and commercial vehicles. A total of 116 different variants of three components of a car automotive steering system were analysed and evaluated. The data were gathered from 13 sub-suppliers for three different types of a steering system.

Findings

Unnecessary time, money, quality and technology can be saved through a greater understanding of such product variances. The results of the case study lead to a general method to optimise existing product variance and present cost improvements and a new key performance indicator to manage product variance out of the purchasing department.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on a purchasing case study at a Tier 1 supplier of the automotive branch. The approach can be used for other company departments, e.g. logistics and for different industries than automotive.

Practical implications

A company can be successful and competitive when it meets the customer needs with a maximum on satisfaction without generating of waste. Unnecessary existing product variance is a kind of waste. The insights of this paper support the operative user and the strategic company management to reduce and improve unnecessary variance in different sections.

Originality/value

The structured analysis of product variance from the purchasing perspective and the key performance indicator “variance share” are new to company management. The research focuses on the management of existing variance out of the purchasing department which is a segment that has received limited academic attention in research to date.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 29 no. 3
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-03-2017-0053
ISSN: 1741-038X

Keywords

  • Purchasing
  • Complexity
  • Variance
  • Product strategy

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Article
Publication date: 1 August 2016

Investigating the readiness of people in manufacturing SMEs to embark on Lean Six Sigma projects: An empirical study in the German manufacturing sector

Alireza Shokri, Teresa Shirley Waring and Farhad Nabhani

The purpose of this paper is to focus on three fundamental human-related behaviour factors associated with Lean Six Sigma (LSS) projects in German manufacturing small-and…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on three fundamental human-related behaviour factors associated with Lean Six Sigma (LSS) projects in German manufacturing small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on the readiness of people (managers and their staff) to commence LSS projects. These are core personal competence, strategic vision of the people and the organisational culture of the specific organisation.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a thorough review of the academic literature a set of hypotheses were constructed to examine the level of association between people’s competence, vision and culture with LSS readiness within SMEs. This was done using correlation and regression analysis. Data collection were carried out in seven different German manufacturing SMEs involved in aerospace supply and agro-food manufacturing using a survey instrument.

Findings

It was found that there is a strong positive association between the core competence of people and organisational culture with readiness for commencing LSS in the manufacturing SMEs studied. The core values of people, education level and the vision of making continuous quality improvement were identified as key variables in promoting LSS readiness in these manufacturing SMEs. This study indicates that these “softer” variables can be essential to successful LSS implementation and need to be explored further before undertaking the process.

Practical implications

From the perspective of the implementers of LSS the results of this research could be of interest to different manufacturing SMEs intending to embark upon an LSS journey as it highlights the significance of human-related behavioural factors in the process. SME organisations may consider carrying out development or training with their managers and employees around personal and organisational values, addressing core competence and strengthening organisational culture in order to facilitate LSS readiness and enhance the prospect of its success.

Originality/value

It would appear that this LSS research has not been carried out within the German manufacturing SME context before and although discrete in nature has surfaced the “softer” variables of core competence of staff and organisational culture as important readiness issues to address when undertaking LSS. This integrated approach of human behavioural factors, organisational culture, LSS and manufacturing SMEs demonstrates the originality of the research.

Details

International Journal of Operations & Production Management, vol. 36 no. 8
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-11-2014-0530
ISSN: 0144-3577

Keywords

  • Six Sigma
  • SMEs
  • Human resources management
  • Manufacturing strategy
  • Lean Six Sigma
  • Key success factors

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Article
Publication date: 1 June 2015

LSS, a problem solving skill for graduates and SMEs: Case study of investigation in a UK business school curriculum

Alireza Shokri and Farhad Nabhani

This paper aims to investigate the feasibility of a systematic Lean Six Sigma (LSS) education through the curriculum of business schools to respond to the existing gap…

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the feasibility of a systematic Lean Six Sigma (LSS) education through the curriculum of business schools to respond to the existing gap between the graduate’s expectation of employability and skill requirements by the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A UK business school has been used as a case study to conduct extensive module and programme review followed by a semi-structured interview with potentially suitable core and programme-specific module tutors and comparative analysis.

Findings

The result revealed a high potential of the existing modules in the business schools equivalent to the private sector training providers to increase the level of LSS problem-solving knowledge and skill for all graduates and improve their employability and productivity for the SMEs.

Originality/value

The result of this study highlights the role of LSS to reduce the knowledge and skill gap between the business schools as the source of the explicit knowledge, graduates as the knowledge and skill bearer and SMEs as the knowledge and skill users.

Details

International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, vol. 6 no. 2
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLSS-06-2014-0014
ISSN: 2040-4166

Keywords

  • Problem-solving
  • SMEs
  • Lean Six Sigma
  • Higher education
  • Knowledge transfer
  • Business schools

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Article
Publication date: 30 September 2014

Evaluating sustainability in the UK fast food supply chain : Review of dimensions, awareness and practice

Alireza Shokri, David Oglethorpe and Farhad Nabhani

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of concern and practice of sustainability development and also policy failure in the fast food supply chain.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of concern and practice of sustainability development and also policy failure in the fast food supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire using Likert scoring recorded variations in current practice and attitudes toward sustainable business. A two-stage cluster analysis was conducted to analyze the multi-attribute ordinal data obtained from the questionnaire.

Findings

Significant differences were found among clusters of fast food businesses in terms of their sustainability concern and practice, which is of interest to policy makers, consumers and supply chain partners. Medium-sized fast food dealers emerge with high environmental and social concern, but poor practice; larger retailers and fast food chains appear to have both fair social and environmental awareness and practice; and there is a cluster of small takeaway-specific outlets that have particularly low levels of knowledge of sustainability or sustainable practices. Policy failure is prevalent amongst these businesses and without regulation this represents a possible threat to the sector.

Research limitations/implications

Reliance on stated rather than revealed preferences of the study may limit the implications of this analysis but it is a major step forward in understanding what has in the past been a very difficult sector to investigate due to data paucity.

Practical implications

Fast food is a sector with a lack of transparency which has attracted little academic attention to date, due to the difficulties of empirical analysis rather than lack of interest in a key food consumption sector. The message for the sector is to monitor its act, across all business types or face regulatory and policy intervention.

Originality/value

The research conducts a three-dimensional sustainability analysis of fast food supply chains to investigate the differences and trade-offs between different sustainability dimensions.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 25 no. 8
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-04-2013-0031
ISSN: 1741-038X

Keywords

  • Food
  • Supply chain management
  • Environmental impact
  • Fast food
  • Sustainable production

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Article
Publication date: 26 August 2014

Evaluating Six Sigma methodology to improve logistical measures of food distribution SMEs

Alireza Shokri, David Oglethorpe and Farhad Nabhani

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation of the Six Sigma methodology as a systematic business strategy and quality initiative to improve the…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation of the Six Sigma methodology as a systematic business strategy and quality initiative to improve the critical logistical measures within small-to-medium-sized food distributors.

Design/methodology/approach

The first stage was the conducting of structured questionnaires to verify the applicability in terms of capability, resources and culture in the targeted industry. The second stage was the implementation of two industrial case studies to investigate the impacts of Six Sigma on logistical measures.

Findings

It was found that Six Sigma is applicable and beneficial in small-to-medium-sized food distributors. It was also found that required training, personal characteristics of managers, size of the organisation, education level and workplace of the employees are the most effective elements to adopt Six Sigma for these organisations.

Research limitations/implications

Cultural factors including high level of secrecy in information exchange, ambiguity and lack of knowledge, sampling population and requirement of ISO9000 were found as key issues in implications of this research programme.

Practical implications

Six Sigma programme can be used as a problem solving practice, a performance measurement tool and a business strategy in small food distributors through more simplified approach to improve the ultimate food supply chain.

Originality/value

This research paper studies the application of Six Sigma in food logistics SME sector by having integrated research approach, and also provides a practical scientific and rigorous quality and profitability improvement methodology for smaller food distribution organisations with limited resources.

Details

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, vol. 25 no. 7
Type: Research Article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-12-2012-0114
ISSN: 1741-038X

Keywords

  • Six Sigma
  • Supply chain management
  • Quality management
  • Food service
  • Small- and medium-sized enterprises
  • Logistics management

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