Gopalakrishnan Narayanamurthy

Leanness assessment: a literature review

Purpose Assessing the outcome of lean transformation journey has been of interest to both researchers and practitioners. Various qualitative and quantitative assessment methodologies have been proposed in literature to track and measure the degree of leanness attained. The purpose of this paper is to understand the evolution of this leanness assessment literature over different attributes and identify gaps for future research. Design/methodology/approach A detailed literature review of peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers addressing leanness assessment was performed. Content analysis methodology involving a four-step process suggested by Mayring (2004) was adopted for this study. Findings The number of studies in literature on leanness assessment is low when compared to that in the area of lean implementation. Assessment methodologies developed are of wide range, varying from simple qualitative checklist to complex quantitative mathematical models. Following the trend of lean implementation literature, lean thinking assessment literature is also getting transformed from process-level monitoring to enterprise-level monitoring. Finally, based on this review, a simplified leanness assessment framework is proposed for future validation. Research limitations/implications Only peer-reviewed journals and conference papers were analyzed, while excluding the manuals, reports, and white papers from practice. Clustering of leanness assessment literature revealed that future studies in this domain would fall into two major categories, namely manufacturing leanness assessment and service leanness assessment. Practical implications Practitioners can use this review study to choose a suitable methodology for assessing the leanness attained in their organization by controlling for the structural attributes identified. Originality/value This is the first paper to review the topic “leanness assessment.” The review analyzes the entire literature available on leanness assessment to summarize its current status and identify potential future directions.

Systemic leanness: An index for facilitating continuous improvement of lean implementation

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe a leanness assessment methodology that takes into account the interaction between lean elements for computing the systemic leanness and for assisting continuous improvement of lean implementation. Design/methodology/approach Key elements determining the leanness level were identified by reviewing the relevant literature and were structured as a framework. Graph-theoretic approach (GTA) was used as the assessment methodology for its ability to evaluate the interaction between the elements in the developed framework. Findings Interactions between the lean elements were configured. Application of the proposed GTA for assessing systemic leanness was demonstrated. Scenario analysis was performed and a scale was developed to assist firms in comparing their systemic leanness index. Research limitations/implications This paper is unique in developing an assessment approach for measuring the systemic leanness. In addition, this study explains how the implementation of lean thinking (LT) in a value stream can be continuously improved by proposing a systemic leanness index that can be benchmarked. The proposed approach to measure systemic leanness can be tested across different value streams in future for extending its generalizability. Practical implications Proposed framework and leanness assessment approach presents an innovative tool for practitioners to capture the systemic aspect of LT. Proposed assessment approach supports practitioners in achieving continuous improvement in lean implementation by revealing the lean elements that need to be focused in future. Originality/value Study introduces a new perspective for LT by studying the importance of interactions between the lean elements and by incorporating them to assess the systemic leanness.

Can lean lead to green? Assessment of radial tyre manufacturing processes using system dynamics modelling

Processes and the associated wastes of radial tyre manufacturing are investigated using lean manufacturing principles.Lean wastes of an Indian radial tyre manufacturing firm are assessed using a system dynamics model.Linkage is established between the lean wastes and green wastes and a lean-green performance index is developed.Impact of manpower and machine availability, and employee skills on lean-green performance are studied.Wastes having substantial and subordinate impact on improving the lean-green performance were identified and prioritized. Even though tyre sector within rubber industry has been recognised to be the major contributor towards environmental pollution, hardly any study has been done to assess the processes involved and its associated wastes to reduce the detrimental impact on the environment. In addition, with the challenges and competitions existing in Indian manufacturing system, domestic tyre manufacturers are struggling for their competitive sustenance. This situation is particularly severe in the radial tyre manufacturing unit, which involves very complex manufacturing process, thereby increasing the volume of wasteful activities. Therefore, tyre manufacturing units are struggling for both their economic and environmental sustainability. Using the well accepted lean manufacturing principles, this paper investigates the processes and the associated wastes of radial tyre manufacturing. The paper presents a novel approach for assessing the wastes using a system dynamics model and validates the model in a radial tyre manufacturing case organisation in India. Scenario analysis by varying the level of employee skills, manpower availability, and machine availability is conducted. The model in addition to showing the overall performance of the radial tyre manufacturing unit assessed, throws light on the amount of greenness attainable by the organisation through the implementation of lean thinking. Wastes which had a substantial impact and subordinate impact on improving the lean and green performance are identified. The study is unique in studying the highly polluting sector which has received the least attention in both OM researchers and practitioners literature. The study is also novel in adopting system dynamics modelling to answer the research questions raised and provide implications for theory and practice.

Business Process Reengineering Through Lean Thinking: A Case Study

Contemporary organizations dealing with software development are under immense pressure to deliver their software products quickly, within the prescribed time frame, and with the highest quality and lowest cost, knowledge working involves more dynamicity, invisibility, and uniqueness. To remain competitive, organizations are trying out the principles and concepts of lean thinking (LT), which were highly successful in the manufacturing sector, to improve their software development process (SDP). This led to the development of a new paradigm called lean software development (LSD). A literature review revealed that not many studies were available describing the implementation of LT from the perspective of an Indian context, although India is considered to be a preferred outsourcing destination for IT solutions. Furthermore, the review also revealed that application of value stream mapping (VSM)—a key tool in the armory of LT—is sparsely applied in the software sector. Hence, the objective of this study is not only to demonstrate the application of VSM but also to identify various wastes and propose different lean tools to reengineer the business process of an Indian software firm that provides supply chain software solutions to logistics providers.

Converging sustainability definitions: industry independent dimensions

Purpose – Sustainability as a construct is still debated and is yet to attain a consensus among researchers and practitioners. Sustainable development has been seen differently by players from different industry sectors. There is need to understand the commonality prevailing on sustainability practices across different industry sectors to arrive at a consensual sustainability definition. The purpose of this paper is to propose four dimensions of sustainability and studies how it captures sustainability practices across key industrial sectors. Design/methodology/approach – Current study argues the case for sustainability using four constructs, namely, economical, environmental, ethical, and social. Subsequently a holistic definition with a model is proposed incorporating the four constructs for sustainability. Studies documenting sustainability practices across industries, namely, automobile, infrastructure, cement and concrete, electronics, mining, paper, pharmaceutical, and logistics were reviewed to val...

Indian healthcare value chain – status quo not a sustainable solution

Purpose Indian healthcare system, especially in rural regions, faces several problems that prevent it from achieving universal and sustainable healthcare coverage. The purpose of this paper is to capture such problems through expert opinions and provide solution concepts that are derived from other similar scenarios. Design/methodology/approach Delphi study has been conducted with 38 experts from diverse areas related to the Indian healthcare sector. Nineteen theses were formulated based on the discussion with experts and were reconfirmed through intensive desktop research. Finally, theses were subjected to expert panel member’s evaluation. Findings The pool of arguments provided by the participating experts included 415 written statements explaining the (dis-)agreement with the theses. The experts achieved consensus in six theses with interquartile ranges smaller or equal to 20. The written arguments provided by experts were summarized into five different categories, namely interrelations/dependencies in healthcare, inequalities in healthcare, lack of proactive measures, importance of healthcare personnel and role of government in healthcare. Finally, a framework is proposed mapping the issues identified at different stages of the healthcare value chain. Problem-based cost allocation and hub-and-spoke model are discussed as potential solutions for the issues identified. Research limitations/implications Lack of empirical and statistical data on the effective cost arising from the present issues suggests future research to determine these expenses and therefore examine the feasibility of applying the problem-based cost allocation framework discussed in this study. Practical implications Results show that merely targeting the supply side of healthcare falls short of the mark, especially in a country, such as India, with large socio-economic differentials. Healthcare system, hence, should be viewed from a market perspective, taking both forces of supply and demand into consideration. Originality/value This study intends to allow for a comprehensive approach to identify the issues in Indian healthcare system by reviewing the existing key studies in literature and validating it through empirical inputs from experts in the domain. Based on the validation, a framework is proposed mapping the issues identified at different stages of the healthcare value chain.

Applying lean thinking in an educational institute – an action research

Purpose Lean thinking (LT) has been implemented in various manufacturing and service sectors. But, only a few published research articles have developed a framework describing the procedure for implementing LT in an educational institute. The purpose of this paper is to develop and demonstrate a framework that can provide a structured procedure for the implementation of LT in an educational institute. Design/methodology/approach Various LT tools and techniques applicable in educational institute were identified by reviewing the relevant literature. By adopting an action research methodology (ARM) for a time period of 28 months, the processes in a case institute were studied; wastes in the process were identified and various solutions were proposed and implemented. Findings A comparison of the performance measures before (Batch 1) and after (Batch 2) implementation of solutions provided interesting insights into the effectiveness of LT. In both the batches, absenteeism in the class was found to increase across the terms. But the magnitude of increase was lesser in Batch 2. Results also showed that the number of unfilled seats (poor utilization) in an elective course in the second year of the program drastically reduced in Batch 2. Finally, a framework that can guide LT implementation in educational institutes was proposed. Research limitations/implications The current study describes only the initial stages of implementation in an educational institute. Hence, some of the benefits discussed are expected in the long run which can be assessed by carrying out a longitudinal study. Future study can attempt to empirically validate the proposed framework in multiple educational institutes and theoretically explain the reasons behind the results obtained. Practical implications ARM can be used as a tool by practitioners to study the behavioral aspects of employees of educational institutes toward LT implementation. The proposed framework and its demonstration can assist employees in educational institutes to implement LT. Positive results obtained in this study can further motivate the educational institutes to consider LT as a potential tool for improving the processes. Originality/value This is the first study to develop and validate a framework for structured implementation of LT in the processes of an educational institute. The study is also unique in empirically capturing the impact of LT implementation of an educational institute by analyzing the archived data.

A case study on downstream supply chain of an Indian alcoholic beverage manufacturer

Purpose – This study aims to understand the structure of downstream network from a supply chain (SC) perspective using a case of an Indian alcoholic beverage manufacturing company. In the SC literature, many researchers and practitioners have studied the design of upstream supplier network. Very few studies have documented the design of downstream network comprising distributors, warehouses, retailers, etc. and current study attempts to contribute to this limited literature. In addition, this study also tries to understand the influence of downstream SC, if any, on top management strategies. Finally, it assesses the SC quality using the standard set of factors and provides insights for its improvement. Design/methodology/approach – Single case study approach has been utilized to understand the configuration of downstream SC. A distillery in southern part of India which distributes a variety of liquor products across the market has been chosen for this study. Different data collection approaches have been ...

Decision-making framework for investing in emerging markets: A demonstration on the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify and understand the obstacles and drivers of financial investors while deciding upon investment opportunities in emerging markets. Design/methodology/approach Relevant factors for financial investors in emerging markets were identified through a literature review and a series of expert interviews. Identified factors were broadly grouped into three categories, namely, microeconomic aspects, macroeconomic aspects, and aspects of the functionality of the local banking system. Finally, an expert panel (Delphi) technique is used to validate the findings in cocoa industry in Ivory Coast. Findings A decision-making framework that enables the evaluation of the attractiveness of an industry in emerging market from a financial investor perspective is developed and its application is demonstrated on the cocoa industry in Ivory Coast. Probability and consensus of the projections for the individual decision elements are tabulated along with the insights into both encouraging and discouraging aspects. Research limitations/implications Current study is a timely contribution to the call for papers in the research literature to develop frameworks that are contextualized in emerging markets. Similar to any other qualitative study, this study lacks the generalizability of results. But, the framework developed can act as a starting point toward the generalizability of the findings in future. Practical implications Decision elements identified in this study can act as a checklist for financial investors and top management to choose the elements that are relevant to the investment problem being dealt by them. Also, the study can act as a handy demonstration to practitioners for applying the framework using expert panel. Social implications A major challenge of the investment environment in emerging market is the non-availability of quality information on the potential investment opportunities. In this study, the authors suggest a framework to overcome this information asymmetry challenge and expect it to promote financial investments in emerging economies which in turn will improve the quality of life of people in these economies. Originality/value First study to present an approach to help financial investors to conduct profound evaluation and gain more in-depth insights into the future investment opportunity attractiveness of a particular industry in an emerging market.

Love plastic: Ashiyana Pipe’s journey to redefine the positioning of plastic

Subject area The case specifically discusses the role of stakeholders and non-market forces and how they can potentially influence the strategic choices of firms. Participants need to have some basic understanding of non-market forces, and stakeholder theory. The case is suitable for courses on sustainable supply chain management, closed loop supply chain management, reverse logistics, green business, environmental management, strategic management and business in emerging economies. Study level/applicability The target audiences for the case are bachelor and first-year MBA students and trainees who are interested in learning the relevance of non-market forces in sustainable growth of an industry and the importance of stakeholder management in the smooth conduct of business. Case overview The case study details how the plastic industry in Kerala faces a non-market threat and how it affects the progress of the industry by using the example of Ashiyana Pipe. Though plastic is a unique material by virtue of its reusability and non-perishable characteristics, it has invited a lot of criticism, as there is a wide spread perception regarding its detrimental impact on the environment (such as choking drains, preventing the degradation of solid waste because of its impermeability, etc.). But the reason for experiencing the detrimental impact of plastic can also be attributed to the inability of the supply chain of the plastic industry to reach a closed-loop status, especially in developing countries such as India, as all categories of post-consumer plastic are not reaching recycling plants. Lack of awareness, lack of community participation in proper segregation and aggregation at the source, absence of incentive systems, weak regulations and poor monitoring are discussed as the common barriers hindering the achievement of closed loop status of plastic supply chain. Detailing the barriers, the case study explains the failure of informal and formal recycling markets in Kerala. Finally, the case study proposes a model with involvement of all the key stakeholders to reposition the hate toward plastic into love through recycling initiatives. Expected learning outcomes Expected learning outcomes of the case are listed below: illustrate the importance of stakeholder involvement in achieving a sustainable business and to stress the importance of a decentralized approach. Illustrate the relevance of non-market forces in sustainable growth of an industry that has significant impact on the surrounding environment and society. Critically analyze the existing business models (based on market mechanism) and suggest possible improvements and alternatives. Understand the challenges that will be faced while implementing an inclusive model with involvement of all stakeholders to reduce the negative impact of non-market forces. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.