Green Lean Six Sigma for improving manufacturing sustainability: Framework development and validation

In the past few decades, a competitive landscape, learned customers and rigorous regulations have forced manufacturing industries to focus on sustainability alongside operational efficiency. The main objective of the present study is to develop a systematic Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) framework for improvement in operational efficiency together with environmental and social sustainability. Further, the proposed framework was tested in a leading manufacturing company. The framework was designed with insights gained from the literature and industrial personnel and encompasses the systematic application of different tools of the Green paradigm, Lean, and Six Sigma, from the identification and assessment of the problem to the sustainment of the adopted measures. A systematic application of lifecycle assessment and social lifecycle assessment was used to assess environmental and societal performance. The sustainability focused GLSS framework enhances the environmental capability, process performance and provides a new perspective for researchers and practitioners to support GLSS projects to achieving higher sustainability dynamics.

Automated summary

In the past few decades, manufacturing industries have been forced to focus on sustainability alongside operational efficiency due to a competitive landscape, learned customers, and rigorous regulations. This study developed a systematic Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) framework that aims to improve operational efficiency while considering environmental and social sustainability. The framework was tested in a leading manufacturing company and incorporates different tools of the Green paradigm, Lean, and Six Sigma, from problem identification and assessment to the implementation of measures. Lifecycle assessment and social lifecycle assessment were used to evaluate environmental and societal performance. The GLSS framework, with its sustainability focus, enhances environmental capability, process performance, and provides a new perspective for researchers and practitioners in achieving higher sustainability dynamics in GLSS projects.