Title: Six Sigma and interpretive structural modelling for effective SCC with focus on human dimensions

Authors: Pratima Mishra; Rajiv Kumar Sharma

Addresses: Department of Management and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, H.P., India ' Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, H.P., India

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to propose an integrated framework for effective supply chain coordination (SCC) with focus on human dimensions (HDs) which makes use of Six Sigma and interpretive structural modelling (ISM) for effective SCC. The authors have identified various indicators from the existing literature and grouped them under ten human dimensions. Further, these dimensions are prioritised using Six Sigma methodology based on questionnaire survey. In order to establish structural relationship among various human dimensions, an interpretive structural modelling approach is used. The study reveals that managerial support, communication and cooperation and training and education are the key factors for successful SCC, being drivers. On other hand dimensions such as team flexibility, employee participation and process improvement emerged as dependent. The dimensions that have high driving power and low dependence required maximum attention to pay. Managerial support is found to be one of the major drivers of supply chain human dimension (SCHDs) and should be treated as the base for effective SCC. The main contribution of this study is to develop a hybrid framework based upon Six Sigma on subjective scaling and interpretive structural modelling approach for effective SCC with focus on key human dimensions.

Keywords: supply chain management; SCM; supply chain coordination; human dimensions; six sigma; prioritisation; interpretive structural modelling; ISM; managerial support; communication; cooperation; training; education; team flexibility; employee participation; process improvement.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBEX.2016.076772

International Journal of Business Excellence, 2016 Vol.9 No.4, pp.387 - 417

Received: 24 Apr 2014
Accepted: 30 Jun 2014
Published online: 01 Jun 2016 *

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