Publicerad: 2008-12-09
ISBN:
ISSN: 1650-3686 (tryckt), 1650-3740 (online)
Purpose: This paper discusses how Lean Six Sigma companies can work to create resilience and robustness in the supply chain.
Methodology/approach: A case study in four companies with observations and face-to-face interviews has been conducted.
Findings: Quality tools and methods are very effective to make the supply chain processes robust and less risky. It has been indicated that Lean Six Sigma companies are robust and have some degree of resilience. It is also important to re-invest in activities that make the entire supply chain resilient. The savings generated from the Lean Six Sigma might be re-invested in risk prevention and mitigation solutions as to create redundancies in the supply chain. Sales and operations plans may be more structured and well worked-out in order to be resilient. Different professions and staff from different companies could be represented in the same training “wave” which can build bridges between departments; factories and; also; between suppliers and customers. In order to fulfil the highest quality at the lowest total cost; the right quality and resilience must be designed from the beginning. Integrating Lean Six Sigma with suppliers and customers in designing products and processes together in order to strive for resilience will be the next challenge.
Originality/value: This paper provides guidance to organisations regarding the applicability and properties of robustness and resilience in the supply chain. The paper will also serve as a basis for further research in this area; focusing on practical experiences of ways to make the supply chain resilient and robust.
Andersson; R.; Eriksson; H. and Torstensson; H.; (2006)“Similarities and differences between TQM; Six Sigma and Lean”; The TQM Magazine; Vol. 18; Issue 3; pp. 282-296.
Andersson; R.; Torstensson; H.; (2006) “A combined quality approach to controlling supply chain risk”; Selected Papers from the 9th Int; QMOD Conf.; Liverpool; UK.
Antonovsky; Aaron; (1987) Unravelling the mystery of health : how people manage stress and stay well; 1. ed. San Francisco; Cal.: Jossey-Bass.
Christopher M. and Rutherford C.; (2004) “Creating Supply Chain Resilience Through Agile Six Sigma”; CriticalEYE; June-August.
Christopher; M.; & Peck; H.; (2004) “Building the resilient supply chain”; International Journal of Logistics Management; 15(2); pp. 1-13.
Creating Resilient Supply Chains; Cranfield School of Management; 2003. Available to download at www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/scr
Eckes; G.; (2001) The Six Sigma revolution; John Wiley & Sons; New York.
Ericsson; D.; (2003) Supply/demand chain management : the next frontier for competitiveness. In Walters; D. (ed.). Global Logistics and Distribution Planning. Kogan Page: London. Pp. 117-135.
George; M. L.; (2002) Lean Six Sigma. Combining Six Sigma Quality with Lean Speed. McGraw-Hill.
George; M.; Rowlands; D. and Kastle; B.; (2004). What is Lean Six Sigma?; New York: McGraw-Hill.
Goldsby; T. and Martichenko; R. (2005) Lean Six Sigma Logistics; J.Ross Publishing; Florida.
Hoole; R.; (2005) “Five ways to simplify your supply chain”. Supply Chain Management : an International Journal. 10(1); pp. 3-6.
Magnusson; K.; Kroslid; D. and Bergman; B.; (2003) Six Sigma- The Pragmatic Approach; Studentlitteratur; Lund.
Martin W. James; (2007) Lean Six Sigma for Supply Chain Management- The 10-Step Solution Process; The McGraw-Hill companies; New York.
Norrman and Jansson; (2004) “Ericsson’s proactive supply chain risk management approach after a serious sub-supplier accident”; International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management; Vol. 34; No. 5; pp. 434-456.
Sheffi Y. (2005a); “Building a culture of flexibility”; Word Trade Magazine’s Supply Chain Online University; December.
Sheffi Y. (2005b); “Preparing for the big one: building a resilient supply chain can help a company survive in the face of a calamitous disruption”. IEE Manufacturing Engineering; October/November; pp. 12-15. Available: IEEE Explorer.
Sheffi Y.; (2007) The resilient enterprise : overcoming vulnerability for competitive advantage. Cambridge; Mass.: MIT.
Sörqvist L. and Höglund F.; (2007) Sex Sigma Resultatorienterat förbättringsarbete som ger ökad lönsamhet och nöjdare kunder vid produktion av varor och tjänster; Studentlitteratur; Lund; Sweden.
Svensson; G.; (2000) “A conceptual framework for the analysis of vulnerability in supply chains”; International journal of physical distribution & logistics management; Vol. 30; No. 9; pp. 731-750.
Wall Street Journal (2001); “Trial by fire- a blaze in Albuquerque sets of major crisis for cell-phone giants”; 29 January. www.CNNMoney.com [2007-10-16]
