The article delves into the pressing need for manufacturing industries to prioritize sustainability alongside operational efficiency due to the evolving competitive landscape, informed customers, and stringent regulations. The study’s primary objective was to create a Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) framework to enhance operational efficiency while addressing environmental and social sustainability.
This framework was formulated based on insights from existing literature and feedback from industry professionals. It systematically applies tools from the Green paradigm, Lean, and Six Sigma, starting from problem identification to the maintenance of implemented measures. The framework also incorporates lifecycle and social lifecycle assessments to evaluate environmental and societal performance.
The article highlights that while manufacturing industries significantly contribute to environmental pollution, most sustainability studies on this sector have only focused on environmental and financial dimensions, neglecting the societal aspects. This limited approach results in short-term benefits only after ensuring long-term sustainability. The article emphasizes the importance of considering a healthy work environment and best labor practices, necessitating the inclusion of societal aspects in industrial practices. Furthermore, the study points out that individual strategies like Green Technology, Lean, and Six Sigma have their limitations. However, when combined, they complement each other, leading to the emergence of the GLSS concept. This integrated approach offers insights from each individual strategy, promoting enhanced organizational sustainability.
Despite the potential of GLSS, the concept is still in its nascent stages. There needs to be a more comprehensive understanding of its features, tools, and implementation frameworks. The article reveals that nearly 40% of GLSS projects fail due to this knowledge gap. Addressing this issue, the study presents a novel GLSS framework tailored to the manufacturing industry. This framework was subsequently tested in a manufacturing company to validate its effectiveness in enhancing environmental and social sustainability. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of aligning efforts to improve social and environmental dynamics with operational strategies to achieve holistic sustainability.
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