Employees factors importance in Lean Six Sigma concept

Abstract

Purpose

Lean management and Six Sigma concepts are derived from two different points of view, but it is evident that the role of employees is crucial in both concepts. The purpose of this paper is to survey which employees’ behaviour dimensions can lead organization to better concepts integration and how Lean Six Sigma activity contributes to employees’ performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Research methodology is designed to empirically check, on large sample of companies in multinational company supply chain, if employees’ factors are both predictor and response variables of Lean Six Sigma concept. To check stated hypothesis factor, reliability and multiple regression analysis are used.

Findings

The first finding of this study is that reward system and training are significant predictors of Lean Six Sigma activities. The second part of findings shows that Lean Six Sigma dimensions, such as Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control/Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, and Validate, 5S and Kanban positively influences employees’ performance, described by employee satisfaction, absenteeism, salaries and benefits, employees’ commitment and employee turnover rate.

Research limitations/implications

Poka-Yoke application is not found as a significant predictor of employees’ performance. Accordingly, to explore that interesting finding, possible future research topic is more detailed analysis of Poka-Yoke application in similar supply chains. A longitudinal analysis using structural equation is possible direction of future work, too.

Practical implications

This survey answers the need for Lean and Six Sigma unified methodology achievement in soft factors area and gives applicable results for companies in supply chain that produces low-volume, high-complexity products.

Originality/value

Original and valuable conclusion is that employees’ factors are both predictor and response variables of Lean Six Sigma concept application.

Citation

Spasojevic Brkic, V. and Tomic, B. (2016), "Employees factors importance in Lean Six Sigma concept", The TQM Journal, Vol. 28 No. 5, pp. 774-785. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-10-2015-0131