An integrated fuzzy framework for analyzing barriers to the implementation of continuous improvement in manufacturing
International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management
ISSN: 0265-671X
Article publication date: 8 April 2020
Issue publication date: 21 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
Delivering premium services and quality products are critical strategies for success in manufacturing. Continuous improvement (CI), as an underlying foundation for quality management, is an ongoing effort allowing manufacturing companies to see beyond the present to create a bright future. We propose a novel integrated fuzzy framework for analyzing the barriers to the implementation of CI in manufacturing companies.
Design/methodology/approach
We use the fuzzy failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) and a fuzzy Shannon's entropy to identify and weigh the most significant barriers. We then use fuzzy multi-objective optimization based on ratio analysis (MOORA), the fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and fuzzy simple additive weighting (SAW) methods for prioritizing and ranking the barriers with each method. Finally, we aggregate these results with Copeland's method and extract the main CI implementation barriers in manufacturing.
Findings
We show “low cooperation and integration of the team in CI activities” is the most important barrier in CI implementation. Other important barriers are “limited management support in CI activities,” “low employee involvement in CI activities,” “weak communication system in the organization,” and “lack of knowledge in the organization to implement CI projects.”
Originality/value
We initially identify the barriers to the implementation of CI through rigorous literature review and then apply a unique integrated fuzzy approach to identify the most important barriers based on the opinions of industry experts and academics.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers and the editor for their insightful comments and suggestions. Dr. Madjid Tavana is grateful for the partial support he received from the Czech Science Foundation (GAˇCR19-13946S) for this research.
Citation
Tavana, M., Shaabani, A. and Valaei, N. (2021), "An integrated fuzzy framework for analyzing barriers to the implementation of continuous improvement in manufacturing", International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 38 No. 1, pp. 116-146. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-06-2019-0196
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited