Prioritizing the Solutions to Overcome Lean Six Sigma 4.0 Challenges in SMEs: A Contemporary Research Framework to Enhance Business Operations

Abstract

The research aims to prioritize the solutions to overcome the challenges of Lean Six Sigma 4.0 (LSS 4.0). It is an integrated approach with lean, six sigma, and Industry 4.0 attributes. This integrated approach helps to achieve organizational excellence and sustainable development goals. Fuzzy stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis (fuzzy-SWARA) was used to estimate the weights of LSS 4.0 challenges. Furthermore, fuzzy-weighted aggregated sum product assessment (fuzzy-WASPAS) was used to prioritize the LSS 4.0 solutions. In this study, 23 challenges and 23 solutions of LSS 4.0 implementation were identified with the help of an extensive literature review and discussion with the area experts having vast experience. Management participation in LSS 4.0 implementation and planning for long-term vision were found to be the topmost solutions to overcome LSS 4.0 challenges. To the best of our knowledge, to date, the prioritization of solutions to overcome the challenges of LSS 4.0 have not yet been investigated in the developing economic context.