The use of Lean Six-Sigma tools in the improvement of a manufacturing company – Case study

Abstract

Handicraft production is usually chaotic and difficult to monitor, since its products and manufacturing processes are complex. As all the manufacturing steps rely on varied skill levels of the workers, the situation is even more stochastic. There are several common problems, such as inappropriate production method, line unbalance, excessive stock, lack of production planning and control phases, etc. They stem from the lack of suitable operation model, redundant workforce usage, and insufficient internal training activities, which lead to the waste of human resources. In this paper, a roadmap to improve the operational efficiency of handicraft manufacturing is suggested, using Lean-Six Sigma methodology and tools. A case study is conducted in a Vietnamese firm to show the validity of the approach.