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SME manufacturing units are basic contributors to Indian Automotive industries. These units are facing a tough time due to the economic slowdown, increasing electric vehicle market, variation in demand, higher variation in products/customers, automation requirements and worldwide political disturbances. Lean methods focus on the reduction of 7 types of important wastes. These methods were first used in Toyota Corporation Japan by Eiji Toyoda. Six Sigma is the operation improvement technique used to reduce the number of defects, faults and mistakes. The mixing of Six Sigma and Lean methods has given excellent results for many sectors in the world. These techniques are regularly used in process industries, pharma industries and the IT sector. Lean Six Sigma could bring positive change to SMEs but these units are reluctant to implement Lean Six Sigma. In the presented research work important Lean Six Sigma tools were derived by consulting industry experts, consultants and academicians. Company ABC (average 5 years turnover 8.2 crore rs) was selected for implementing Lean Six Sigma tools. Important tools like 5S, VSM, Ishikawa and standardization of operation were implemented. Considerable reductions in rejection rate and cost of production were achieved.
Zala et al. (Wed,) studied this question.