Title: DOLADMAICS: a model for implementing Lean Six Sigma in contemporary SMEs

Authors: S. Michael Gnanaraj, S.R. Devadasan, R. Murugesh, P.R. Shalij

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nachimuthu Polytechnic College, Pollachi, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. ' OPPIS Ready Foods, Civil Aerodrome Post, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. ' Department of Production Engineering, Government Engineering College, Thrissur, Kerala, India

Abstract: In recent years, the world has been focusing on the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Meanwhile, the world has also been looking at the Lean Six Sigma concept as an enabler for companies to achieve prosperity. Hence, it is recommended that Lean Six Sigma be applied to SMEs. However, contemporary SMEs are suffering from certain deficiencies which make it unsuitable for them to implement the Lean Six Sigma concept immediately. This situation indicates the need for developing a model that can overcome the deficiencies existing in SMEs and enable implementation of the Lean Six Sigma concept for achieving prosperity. In order to fulfil this need, in this paper, a model named DOLADMAICS (for Deficiencies Overcoming-Lean Anchored-Define-Measure-Analyse-Improve-Control-Stabilise) is contributed. The DOLADMAICS model is designed to enable an SME to implement the Lean Six Sigma concept at five levels. The workings of DOLADMAICS model is explored by presenting a hypothetical case study.

Keywords: lean manufacturing; lean six sigma; six sigma implementation; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; DOLADMAICS; DMAICS; define measure analyse improve control stabilise.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSOM.2010.035707

International Journal of Services and Operations Management, 2010 Vol.7 No.4, pp.440 - 464

Published online: 03 Oct 2010 *

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