Exploring Critical Success Factors for LSS 4.0 Implementation: A Combined Systematic Literature Review and Interpretive Structural Modelling Approach

The integration of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies with Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has grown rapidly as a research area and has recently emerged as an innovative strategy for organizations to boost operational excellence. I4.0 technologies when combined with quality improvement strategies provide companies with new tools, advantages and features to be more efficient in terms of quality and costs. A great interest is given to this approach among both academicians and practitioners. However, despite this growing interest, very few studies have focused on its implementation, and there is a lack of empirical investigation of critical success factors (CSFs). To fill this gap, this study aims to identify and prioritize the CSFs for the integration of LSS with I4.0 in the context of Moroccan manufacturing industries and to examine their interactions and impacts on the real application of this approach. A mixed-method approach was used combining a qualitative and quantitative research approach. A systematic literature review (SLR), Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM), and Matrice d’Impacts Croises-Multiplication Appliquée and Classification (MICMAC) were conducted. Ten CSFs were extracted from the SLR and then validated by industrial experts. The relationship between the ten CSFs was assessed and a hierarchical model of them developed using the ISM method. Next, each of the CSFs were categorized into “related” and “dependent” CSFs using MICMAC analysis. The results suggest that all the identified CSFs are critical, and thus are significant factors in the implementation of LSS 4.0 projects. This research will help managers design their journey to LSS 4.0 to get an upper hand in the current competitive environment.