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A Lean Six Sigma framework for the reduction of ship loading commercial time in the iron ore pelletising industry

Garza-Reyes, Jose Arturo; Al-Balushi, Mustafa; Antony, Jiju; Kumar, Vikas

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Authors

Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes

Mustafa Al-Balushi

Jiju Antony



Abstract

© 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Abstract: Evidence suggests that specifically designed frameworks to implement Lean Six Sigma (LSS) projects to tackle particular problems are more effective than ‘generic’ versions. This paper proposes an implementation framework to effectively deploy LSS to improve a key operation and performance indicator, i.e. ship loading commercial time, of one of the largest world producer of iron ore. This article therefore contributes with a refined framework to effectively implement LSS, and documents its successful application and effectiveness within the context of the case organisation. The LSS framework and project contributed in helping the studied organisation to improve both the capability of its ship loading process and commercial time by more than 30%, resulting in operational savings in the range of $300,000 USD per year. The systematic nature of the framework proposed also helped the organisation to establish a standardised routine to improve its operations. Managerial implications exposing the challenges faced during the implementation of LSS are also discussed to serve as lessons learnt to be considered in other LSS projects. Managers and engineers incharge of improving operations and processes can benefit from this paper as it can be used as a guide to direct the conduction of LSS projects and the empirical application of its principles and tools.

Citation

Garza-Reyes, J. A., Al-Balushi, M., Antony, J., & Kumar, V. (2016). A Lean Six Sigma framework for the reduction of ship loading commercial time in the iron ore pelletising industry. Production Planning and Control, 27(13), 1092-1111. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2016.1185188

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 28, 2016
Online Publication Date May 15, 2016
Publication Date May 15, 2016
Deposit Date Apr 26, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Production Planning and Control
Print ISSN 0953-7287
Electronic ISSN 1366-5871
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 27
Issue 13
Pages 1092-1111
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2016.1185188
Keywords DMAIC, iron ore industry, lean, lean six sigma, operations improvement, six sigma
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/911976
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2016.1185188
Additional Information Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Production Planning & Control on 15 May 2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09537287.2016.1185188.

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