Current state maps on the implementation of lean and Six-Sigma paradigms and an exclusive model for deploying Lean Six-Sigma in SMEs

During the recent years, lean, Six-Sigma and Lean Six-Sigma paradigms have been widely applied in large size organisations to achieve global competitiveness. As the title implies, Lean Six-Sigma paradigm embraces lean and Six-Sigma concepts. As Lean Six-Sigma is tailor-made to suit large size organisations, there has been little effort on implementing this paradigm in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are footprints of large size organisations. Hence the successful implementation of Lean Six-Sigma paradigm in SMEs will help large size organisations to achieve global competitiveness. In this context, a literature survey was conducted during the research reported in this paper. The findings of this survey have been used to map the current states of implementing lean, Six-Sigma and Lean Six-Sigma paradigms in SMEs. After completing this exercise, a Lean Six-Sigma model exclusively to suit SMEs has been proposed.