Development of a lean six sigma implementation framework for small and medium sized Indonesian manufacturing enterprises
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2010
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The main objective of this research was to develop an implementation framework for
the introduction of the Lean Six Sigma improvement approach into small and medium
enterprises (SMEs) in Indonesia. It was expected that an appropriate diffusion of Lean
Six Sigma would assist the SMEs to improve their competitiveness.
The research involved a close examination of Indonesian SMEs and their support
networks in order to evaluate the suitability of the Lean Six Sigma approach and to
inform the design of an effective implementation framework.
Six Sigma is a popular business improvement approach. In Lean Six Sigma ideas from
Lean Production (Womack, Jones and Ross 1984) have been incorporated with Six
Sigma. There is some evidence that Lean Six Sigma has advantages over Six Sigma and
provides a strengthened business improvement approach.
Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory is used as the theoretical framework for the
research (Rogers 2003). The theory is particularly useful in guiding the diffusion of an
innovation developed i.~ one cultural ('etting into a different cultural setting.
The literature review covers the history and development of Six Sigma and Lean Six
Sigma. Also, related approaches such as TQM and ISO 9000 are reviewed. A number of
existing Six Sigma implementation frameworks were found in the literature and
reviewed.
A review of Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory was undertaken. Also research
identifying critical success factors (CSFs) associated with the implementation of
improvement approaches such as TQM was undertaken. Rogers ' theory and the CSFs
literature were important inputs in the research methodology.
Literature on SMEs in general and Indonesian SMEs in particular was reviewed. The
contribution of SMEs to the Indonesian economy, the various forms of support available
to them and the stage of development of improvement programs was reviewed.
The majority of data were collected through the development and administration of a
questionnaire survey completed by SME owners/managers. A sample of 148 usable
questionnaires was obtained. Interviews were also conducted with SME
owners/managers and other stakeholders e.g., government, Business Development
Services (BDS), universities, customers and suppliers.
The results showed that SMEs had a relatively low usage of improvement tools and
Information Technology (IT). This low technical base presents a challenge to the
successful implementation of Lean Six Sigma. However, owners/managers were
relatively optimistic about the success of such an innovation and reported encouraging
levels of commitment both by themselves and their employees for such change.
The results established that SME owners/managers were most influenced by their key
customers and other SMEs when making decisions about adopting an innovation. The
results indicated a preference for face-to-face rather than virtual (online) training. Areas
for improvement in the support provided to SMEs from government were rep01ted.
The main outcome of this research is an implementation framework of Lean Six Sigma
for SMEs. The frameworks' elements are owner/manager commitment and involvement,
training, employee involvement, culture change and external support. The :framework is
designed specifically for the Indonesian SMEs context and includes the element
'external support' which is not present in any of the existing frameworks that were
reviewed.
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