Purpose This study aims to address a critical gap in Lean Six Sigma 4.0 (LSS 4.0) research by identifying the essential skills required for its successful implementation in Industry 4.0 (I4.0) environments. Existing literature has mostly overlooked the human competencies needed to enable digital transformation. This study develops a structured, knowledge-driven framework for LSS 4.0 skill acquisition. Design/methodology/approach This study used a four-stage exploratory methodology, the authors conducted a systematic literature review, expert surveys and practitioner interviews to identify, validate and classify critical LSS 4.0 skills. These skills were then categorized into soft and hard skills and mapped within a conceptual framework combining the technology–organization–environment (TOE) model and knowledge management (KM) theory. Findings Fifteen essential skills were identified and ranked by relevance. The findings highlight that 80% of these are soft skills, with intrapersonal competencies being most critical. A conceptual model was developed that integrates KM principles into the TOE framework, offering a systematic roadmap for organizations to enable knowledge-based digital transformation and sustainable LSS 4.0 adoption. Originality/value To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first empirical study to propose a TOE–KM integrated model for LSS 4.0 skills, providing both theoretical and practical contributions. It advances the field of KM by framing skill development as a dynamic, knowledge-enabled capability essential for I4.0 readiness.
Citybabu et al. (Wed,) studied this question.