Rakesh L. Shrivastava

Critical success factors for Lean Six Sigma in SMEs (small and medium enterprises)

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify and list critical success factors (CSFs) of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) framework affecting and influencing quality, operational and financial performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It also intends to guide researchers and practitioners in selecting appropriate set of CSFs for empirical studies, developing frameworks and to ensure effective implementation experience of LSS. Design/methodology/approach – It systematically reviews literature on CSFs and Indian experience regarding LSS. It uses exploratory approach for data collection and documents various studies depicting both manufacturing and service experiences by using time tested statistical tools to prioritize CSFs, which critically influence LSS implementation. Findings – The study guides and facilitates researchers and practitioners in using the most appropriate set of CSFs for empirical studies and in developing/modifying/reviewing application frameworks. It also guides implementation experi...

AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO EVALUATE GREEN SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (GSCM) DRIVERS BY USING INTERPRETIVE STRUCTURAL MODELING (ISM)

Green supply chain management (GSCM) comprises of the Manufacturing process that minimizes waste and pollution. It also integrates environmental thinking into supply chain management; from conceptual product design to the delivery of final product to the consumers, and also involves end-of-life management. Many business organizations have implemented GSCM and many more are in the process to put into practice. Its implementation is supported by few factors which are known as GSCM drivers. These drivers could assist in adoption of Green supply chain management. The aim of this paper is to develop a relationship amongst the identified GSC drivers; including management commitments, regulatory pressure etc. This paper is also helpful in understanding mutual influences of drivers, it helps in identifying those drivers which support other drivers as well as those drivers which are most influenced by other drivers (dependent) using interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and it classifies these drivers depending upon their driving and dependency on power.

Green manufacturing (GM): past, present and future (a state of art review)

Green manufacturing (GM) is fast emerging as the sustainable manufacturing solution that has the potential to solve most problems that the world faces today. GM covers the entire product life cycle from conceptual design to disposal in a benign, harmless manner causing no or minimal adverse impact on environment by optimum use of resources and reduction of waste and pollution. 4Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, remanufacture) is slowly being accepted and adopted as the model of growth and sustainability the world over. There is a very large volume of literature available on GM dealing with several aspects. This paper is an attempt to comprehensively and systematically review the same and put it in a format which can be easily comprehended and applied. This is an effort of analysing around 123 papers from around 73 leading journals spread over last 15 years. This entire database is critically reviewed and properly classified by the authors. The analysis further revel several emerging issues and challenges which need to be addressed. The key challenge identified is the absence of unified comprehensive GM framework. The authors have finally suggested one such universal GM framework.

Critical success factors for sustainable improvement in technical education excellence

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify critical factors of total quality management (TQM), for use in a possible framework that addresses sustainable quality improvements in technical institutes as a plausible means of TQM implementation in higher education programs.Design/methodology/approach – The literature survey of the TQM and related quality methodologies and content analysis of TQM literature in technical institutes provide the theoretical and practical background for this work. The content analysis was carried out following the standard principles of deductive reasoning and subsequently, relevant factors were identified for implementations.Findings – Unlike the scenario in industry, TQM philosophies have to be adopted differently for a successful implementation in technical institutes. The identified critical factors of TQM and related quality improvement methodologies provide a comprehensive guideline for an effective and efficient implementation of TQM in technical institutes.Origina...

Development and validation of performance measures for green manufacturing (GM) practices in medium and small scale industries in Vidharbha region, India

Green manufacturing (GM) is a term used to describe manufacturing practices that do not harm the environment during any part of the manufacturing process. It emphasises the use of processes that do not pollute the environment or harm consumers, employees, or other members of the community. GM stresses on reducing parts, rationalising materials, and reusing components, to help make products more efficient to build. A survey was undertaken by the authors in 2009 to determine the extent of awareness and implementation of GM practices within various manufacturing industries in the Vidharba region of Maharashtra, India. In this paper, an approach is made to develop an instrument to find the status of awareness and implementation of GM in this region. It also aims at developing and validating performance measures for GM in Indian context that could be used by manufacturers in assessing and improving their environmental manufacturing performance. The author concludes that the adaptation of GM by industries is still at very early stage with much work to be done to raise levels of awareness and to convince them regarding the potential benefits of GM.

Identification of critical success factors in Indian automobile industry: a GSCM approach

Green supply chain management (GSCM) is the process of minimising the environmental impacts during various phases of supply chain. It not only integrates environmental thinking into supply chain management; from conceptualisation of product design to the delivery of final product, but also involves end of life management and reverse logistic. Thus GSCM designs the supply chain in such a manner that it should have minimum environmental footprint as well as maximum benefits in every aspect. This paper focuses on identifying critical success factors (CSF) of GSCM implementation in the automobile industry located in India. Through a detailed literature review and study we have identified 12 success factors having 42 variables. Based on this, factor and reliability analysis has been performed. These success factors are identified with exhaustive literature survey and its validation is tested using confirmative factor analysis to test the fitness of classification of elements among 12 critical success factors. The study is done in Maharashtra state of India, though the factors identified are relevant to Indian as well as global context.

Development and validation of an instrument for measuring critical success factors (CSFs) of technical education – a TQM approach

Like other systems, technical education system is also dynamic in nature. It faces many challenges in responding to societal, technological and economic changes in the local and global environment. The issue today is to ensure quality education delivery system for technical education. The literature shows that many educational institutes have initiated efforts for quality improvements. However, there is neither sufficient literature (regarding identification of critical factors responsible for excellence in technical education), nor appropriate measures (research instruments) to determine those factors. In this context it is necessary to identify key critical success factors (CSFs), which may be given special attention for ensuring desired excellence in technical education. Though different authors have proposed different ways to address the quality related issues in various domains, on the basis of critical review of literature, this study proposes use of a new research instrument for identification of critical success factors by using total quality management (TQM) as the base. The developed instrument was assessed for its reliability and validity using standard methods. The results indicated that the developed instrument was reliable and valid, which can be used to identify the critical success factors important for excellence in technical education.

Evaluating green manufacturing drivers: an interpretive structural modelling approach

Green manufacturing (GM) is a sustainable method of manufacturing that minimises waste and pollution. GM covers the entire product life cycle from conceptual design to disposal in a benign, harmless manner. It causes no or minimal adverse impact on environment by optimum use of resources and reduction of waste and pollution. 4Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, remanufacture) is slowly being accepted and adopted as the model of growth and sustainability the world over. Its implementation is supported by few factors which are known as GM drivers. There are many drivers which are expanding the boundaries for green manufacturing. These drivers could facilitate to adopt Green manufacturing. The aim of this paper is to develop a relationship amongst the identified GM drivers; including management commitments, regulatory pressure, pressure from stakeholders etc. This paper is also helpful in understanding mutual influences of drivers. It helps in identifying those drivers which support other drivers as well as those drivers which are most influenced by other drivers (dependent) using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) and it classifies these drivers depending upon their driving and dependency on power.

Identification of performance measures in Indian automobile industry: a green supply chain management approach

The environment is experiencing pressure from various manufacturing industries. Environmental pollution produced from process industries causing very dangerous issues like global warming, production of green house gases and depletion of ozone layer. Green supply chain management (GSCM) is the approach by which we minimise the effect of this environmental hazard. This study aims to identify the various measures on which performance of GSCM can be evaluated and further validation of the identified performance measures (PM). The automobile sector in India is considered to carry out the study in order to limit the scope of the research work. After comprehensive literature review and study we have identified six performance measures having 28 variables. Based on this, factor and reliability analysis has been performed. These measures are identified with exhaustive literature survey and its validation is tested using confirmative factor analysis to test the fitness of classification of elements among these measures. The study is done in central India, though the factors identified are relevant to Indian as well as global context.

Research instrument design for performance measures of green manufacturing practices in India - a pilot study

Green manufacturing (GM) is a terminology that minimises waste and pollution. It emphasises on the use of processes that do not pollute the environment or harm consumers, employees, or other members of the community. GM is fast emerging as the sustainable manufacturing solution that has the potential to solve most problems that the world faces today. A pilot survey was undertaken by the authors in mid 2011 to determine the extent of awareness and implementation of GM practices within various manufacturing industries in central India. In this paper an approach is made to develop an instrument to find the status of awareness and implementation of GM in India. It also aims at developing and validating performance measures for GM in the Indian context that could be used by manufacturers in assessing and improving their environmental manufacturing performance. Using a comprehensive blend of the literature, eight performance measures of GM and their 59 variables have been developed. The identified performance measures were subjected to appropriate statistical tests to establish reliability and validity. The validated instrument developed here may be used by manufacturing organisations to prioritise their efforts to assess and implement GM.