Implementation of Lean Six Sigma through ISO 9001:2008 based QMS: a case study in a textile mill

• Published in: Journal of the Textile Institute Vol. 104; no. 10; pp. 1089 - 1100
• Main Authors: Karthi, S., Devadasan, S.R., Selvaraju, K., Sivaram, N.M., Sreenivasa, C.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Manchester Routledge 01.10.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Case studies; ISO 9001; Lean; Lean manufacturing; Lean Six Sigma and ISO 9001:2008; Six Sigma; spinning mill; Textile industry; textiles and clothing
• ISSN: 0040-5000; 1754-2340
• DOI: 10.1080/00405000.2013.774945

In recent years, the ISO 9001 standard based Quality Management System (QMS) has been widely implemented in the textile industry. After the quality revolution, the textiles and clothing industry has also started implementing the modern manufacturing paradigms like Lean, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, etc. in a phased manner. In the globalised scenario, the Lean Six Sigma paradigm that facilitates achieving waste elimination and a quality level of 3.4 defects per million opportunities have wider scope in all organizations. Though a theoretically integrated model of Lean Six Sigma and ISO 9001:2008 standard based QMS, L6QMS-2008 has been reported recently, practical case studies are seldom available. This research paper reports the case study of implementing this L6QMS-2008 model in a textile mill and thereby achieving annual savings of 2 million INR.