The Six Sigma strategy and the Lean Six Sigma strategy

The purpose of this chapter is to demonstrate that the author has successfully fulfilled the aim of this study, which is to investigate the level of implementing Lean Six Sigma construction industry The aim of this very last chapter is to present an overall summary of the results with the aid of comprehensive figures and models. In addition, the author has recommended some relevant strategies as to improve the level of application of LSS in construction industry, as well as further research in related to this particular topic.
7.2 Conclusions

Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is important to place emphasis on the fact that LSS has substantial perspectives in terms of its application in organization operating in the construction industry. However, organizations operating in the construction industry should take into consideration specificities of the strategy and their own organizational structure and culture as well as their traditional strategies, position in the market and human resource management. In other words, before implementing the LSS, organizations should conduct the detailed analysis to understand their needs, threats and strengths and to implement the LSS effectively. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that the LSS is a new term and many organizations have never implemented this strategy before. Therefore, they may confront certain problems while implementing this strategy. In actuality, the overall application of LSS is low and factors can that can improve the level of application and implementation of LSS in construction industry whole LSS as might not be implemented in construction industries but some of its components are involved. The current study has proved that LSS is more popular among those with less than three years of working experience whereas remain unpopular among those with more than Three years of working experience (Wilson, 2010).

At the same time, organizations should be aware of possible risks and threats they may confront in the course of the implementation of the LSS. The opposition of the personnel to changes may be named among the most serious problems organizations implementing the LSS. In fact, many organizations fail to complete the LSS successfully because they fail to inform the personnel about upcoming changes and provide them with detailed information on consequences and goals of the change. In such a situation, organizations may also face a risk of the rise of informal leadership and opposition to the change.

Nevertheless, if organizations manage to implement the LSS successfully, they can count for positive outcomes because the LSS contributes to the consistent improvement of the organizational performance. In this regard, it is necessary to take into consideration several factors. First of all, the LSS contributes to the consistent improvement of the quality of products, services and internal business processes. Therefore, the organizational performance improves consistently. Second, the LSS contributes to the improvement of organizational culture and stimulates the optimization of the organizational structure. As a result, organizations can save costs and optimize their performance (Wilson, 2010). Third, changes introduced in organizations after the implementation of the LSS lead to the improvement of the company-customer relationships, which are particularly important in the contemporary business environment. In fact, the LSS can improve not only the quality of products and services delivered to customers but also it can increase the customer satisfaction and loyalty. As a result, organizations can benefit from the introduction of the LSS, which leads to the improvement of organizational culture and structure and improvement of company-customer relationships. However, it is important to stress that the implementation of the LSS in the construction is still limited and it may be particularly successful in organizations operating for less than three years.

7.3 Recommendations

In fact, it proves beyond a doubt that the LSS has a considerable potential and bring positive results for organizations implementing this strategy but the problems related to the implementation of the LSS identified in the current study can become unsurpassable barriers for organizations on their way to the successful implementation of the LSS. In this respect, it is possible to provide several recommendations, which can help organizations to implement the LSS successfully. First of all, organizations should conduct the promotional campaign to reach their employees (Ehrlich, 2002). What is meant here is the fact that organizations should explain employees goals and expected effects after the implementation of the LSS. In such a way, organizations will minimize the risk of the opposition to changes associated with the implementation of the LSS from the part of employees. In addition, organizations may involve employees in the elaboration of the strategy and introduce their own suggestions to increase the effectiveness of changes, which aim at the improvement of the quality of business management.

Furthermore, organizations should implement the LSS only after the detailed analysis of their strengths and weaknesses along with the analysis of the current marketing environment and their competitive position in the market (Flick, 2009). In such a way, organizations will assess objectively their position in the market and their readiness to introduce changes associated with the implementation of the LSS. Moreover, organizations will define accurately their needs and goals, which they have to meet in the course of the implementation of the LSS (Dahlgaard and Dahlgaard-Park, 2006). As a result, organizations would be able to implement the LSS effectively.

 

 

 

 

 
CHAPTER EIGHT: REFERENCES
[1] Alarcon, L (1997). Lean Cinstruction. USA: A.A.Balkema. p344-414.
[2] Andersson, R; Eriksson, H and Torstensson, H. (2006). Similarities and differences between TQM, six sigma and lean. The TQM Magazine. 18 (3), p282-296.
[3] Bandyopadhyay, J. K. and Lichtman, R. (December, 2007). “Six Sigma approach to Quality and Productivity Improvement in an Institution for Higher Education in the United States ”, International Journal of Management, Volume 24, Number 4.
[4] Basu, R (2009). Implementing Six Sigma and Lean: a practical guide to tools and techniques . Ocford: Elsevier Ltd. p1-49.
[5] Bosch Rexroth Corporation. (2007). Lean Manufacturing: Principles, Tools and Methods. Last accessed: 15th May 2011
[6] Brue, G (2003). Design for Six Sigma. United States of America: McGraw-Hill Companies. p95-143.
[7] Caldwell, C; Butler, G and Posten, N (2009). Lean-Six Sigma for healthcare: a senior leader guide to improving cost and throughput. 2nd ed. United States of America: William A. Tony. p1-52.
[8] Carreira, B and Trudell, B (2006). Lean Six Sigma That Works: A Powerful Action Plan for Dramatically Improving Quality, Increasing Speed, And Reducing Waste. New York: AMACOM. p3-59.
[9] Dahlgaard J. J. and Dahlgaard-Park, S. M. (2006). Lean production, six sigma quality, TQM and company culture. The TQM Magazine. 18 (3), p263-281.
[10] Ehrlich, B. H. (2002). Transactional Six Sigma and Lean Servicing: leveraging manufacturing concepts to achieve world class service. United States of America: CRC Press LLC. p1-8.
[11] El-Haik, B and Al-Aomar, R (2006). Simulation-based lean six-sigma and design for six-sigma . New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p3-57.
[12] Environmental Protection Agency. (2006). Working Smart for Environmental Protection Improving State Agency Processes with Lean and Six Sigma. Available: http://www.epa.gov/lean/government/primer/resources/LeanGovtPrimer.pdf.
Last accessed: 20th July 2011.
[13] Epply, T (2000). THE LEAN MANUFACTURING HANDBOOK. 4th ed. Unites States: Continental Inc. p3-19.
[14] Flick, U (2009). An introduction to qualitative research. 4th ed. London: SAGE Publications Ltd. p414-443.
[15] George, M. L. (2002). Lean Six Sigma: combining Six Sigma quality with lean speed . 2nd ed. United States: McGraw-Hill
[16] George, M. L. (2003). Lean Six Sigma for Service: How to Use Lean Speed and Six Sigma Quality to Improve Services and Transactions. United States: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. p3-54. (George, 2003)
[17] Gopalakrishnan, N (2010). Simplified Lean Manufacture. New Delhi: Aroske K. Ghosh. p87-129. (Gopalakrishnan, 2010)
[18] Hartung, M. F. (2010). Lean – Six SIGMA. Available: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=8bkyIFKOUNQC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false Last accessed 4th Jul 2011.
[19] Hoare, J., 2010. “Individual Research Dissertations.” Lecture Notes, MSc Construction Management, University of Birmingham, UK.
[20] Johnstone, C.; Pairaudeau, G. and Pettersson J. A.. (January 2011). Creativity, innovation and lean sigma: a controversial combination?.Drug Discovery Today . 16 (1/2), p50-56. (journal-innovation and lean sigma)
[21] lavudeen, A and Venkateshwaran, N (2008). Computer Integrated Manufacturing. New Delhi: Aroske K. Ghosh. p121-137.
[22] Madison, D (2005). Process mapping, process improvement, and process management: a practical guid to enhancing work and information flow. United States of America: Scott M. Patson. 19-46.
[23] Meisel, R. M and Schlichting J. P. (2007). The Executive Guide to Understanding and Implementing Lean Six Sigma: The financial impact. 3rd ed. United States of America: William A. Tony. p1-18.
[24] Moore, R (2007). Selecting the right manufacturing improvement tools: what tool? when?. Oxford: Elsevier Ltd. p7-19.
[25] Pande, P., and Holpp, L. (2002). What is Six Sigma?, McGraw-Hill.
[26] Pepper, M. P. J. and Spedding, T. A. (2010). The evolution of lean Six Sigma. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management. 27 (2), p138-155.
[27] Ramasmy, S. (2005). Total Quality Management. Tata McGraw-Hill.
[28] ROBSON, C. (2002). Real World Research. 2nd ed., Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 510 pp
[29] Rother, M and Shook, J (2008). Learning to see: value stream mapping to create value and eliminate muda. USA: The Lean Enterprise Institute, Inc. p7-18.
[30] Sarkar, D (2007). Lean for Service Organizations and Offices: A Holistic Approach for Achieving Operational Exellence and Improvements . 2nd ed. United States of America: William A. Tony. p1-19.
[31] Sehmus, A and Khalid, R. (2011). THE FEASIBILTY OF USING BUSINESS PROCESS IMPROVEMENT APPROACHES TO IMPROVE AN ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT. Proceedings of ASBBS. 18 (1), p83-94.
[32] Taghizadegan, S (2006). Essentials of lean six sigma. UK: Elsevier Inc. p49-71.
[33] Taylor, G. M. (2009). Lean six sigma service excellence: a guide to green belt certification and bottom line improvement. 2nd ed. U.S.A: J. Ross Publishing. p205-268.
[34] Tennant, G (2001). Six Sigma: SPC and TQM in manufacturing and services. 2nd ed. Hamshire: Gower Publishing Company. p7-36.
[35] Vincent A. and Amaro Jr., Vincent A. Amaro, Jr. (2006). Evolver – A Practitioner’s Guide to Lean Manufacturing – 5S Edition. United States: Lean Manufacturing Consulting, Inc.. 30-67.
[36] Wilson, L (2010). How to Implement Lean Manufacturing. United States: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.. p9-57.
[37] Windsor, S. E. (2005). ransactional Six sigma for green belts. United States of America: William A. Tony. p4-17.



Leave a Reply