Abstract:
Purpose – Quality management barriers have been discovered in construction small- and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs), determining their long-term survival. Despite the recognition of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) as a
valuable quality management technique for addressing the barriers faced by SMEs, LSS implementation within the
construction SME context is alarmingly low. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the barriers for implementing
LSSwithin construction SMEs and to determine themost effective strategies for overcoming these barriers.
Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative research approach was used, and data was collected
in two stages: a questionnaire survey with 44 construction professionals and an expert opinion survey with 12
LSS specialists. The collected data was then analysed using the fuzzy TOPSIS method, achieving a higher
degree of sensitivity.
Findings – The findings revealed the 15 most significant LSS barriers that need to be addressed. In addition, the
ten most important strategies to be implemented in overcoming the identified barriers before LSS implementation
were discovered and thematised, most notably the hiring of LSS specialists for project monitoring and the
formation of a committee for strategic planning through LSS.
Originality/value – Previous research on LSS examined barriers and strategies for SMEs in
general, but to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first of its kind, focusing especially
on the construction SME context and involving the unique fuzzy TOPSIS approach.
Citation:
De Silva, S. H., Ranadewa, K. A. T. O., & Rathnasinghe, A. P. (2023). Barriers and strategies for implementing lean six sigma in small- and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) in construction industry: A fuzzy TOPSIS analysis. Construction Innovation, 1-43. https://doi.org/10.1108/CI-09-2022-0225