Title: An interpretive structural modelling approach to analyse the inhibitors of Lean Six Sigma in small and medium enterprises of India

Authors: Tharun Thomas; P.G. Saleeshya

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India

Abstract: This study investigates the interrelationships among the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) inhibitors of Indian SMEs. The 40 million small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India employ 106 million people and contribute 36% of India's manufacturing output. To ensure sustainable development of Indian SMEs, manufacturing organisations require continuous improvement strategies such as Lean, Six Sigma and innovations. However, SMEs face difficulties in implementing these continuous improvement strategies because of the prevailing growth inhibitors. The study attempts to systematically analyse these growth inhibitors and find their root causes. The growth inhibitors are identified based on an extensive review of the literature and subsequent consultation with industry experts. The inhibitors contextual relationships are developed, and root causes are identified using an integrated approach of interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and fuzzy matrix of cross-impact multiplication applied to classification approach (MICMAC).

Keywords: Lean; Six Sigma; interpretive structural modelling; ISM; MICMAC; LSS inhibitors; LSS barriers; India; small and medium enterprises; SMEs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2024.137231

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2024 Vol.41 No.2, pp.262 - 288

Received: 02 Dec 2021
Accepted: 09 Apr 2022
Published online: 06 Mar 2024 *

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