RETRACTED: Quality improvement in retail-distribution of Saudi thobe using six-sigma
International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management
ISSN: 0959-0552
Article publication date: 2 June 2023
Retraction notice
The publisher of the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management wishes to retract the following article, Abualsauod, E.H. (2023), “Quality improvement in retail-distribution of Saudi thobe using six-sigma”, International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-02-2023-0091
It has come to the attention of the publisher that there are concerns with the handling and peer review of these articles, which were submitted to the special issue ‘Recent trends and advances of information application use in retail, distribution and e-commerce: Marketing and management opportunities, challenges and solutions’. This special issue has now been cancelled. As a result of these concerns, the articles’ findings cannot be relied upon. As trust in the content is central to the integrity of the publication process, the Editor and Publisher have taken the decision to retract all of the articles within this special issue (listed above). The journal has not been able to confirm whether the authors were aware of this attempted manipulation of the publication process. The journal is committed to correcting the scientific record and will fully cooperate with any institutional investigations into this matter. The authors have been informed of this decision. The authors would like it to be noted that they are not in agreement with this retraction. This decision is in accordance with Emerald’s publishing ethics and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The publisher of the journal sincerely apologizes to the readers and authors, who were not found to be involved in any malpractice.
Abstract
Purpose
This research aims to enhance the operational excellence and continuous improvement of the retail supply chain in the Saudi Thobe Factory through an integrated approach of Six Sigma DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) with artificial intelligence (AI).
Design/methodology/approach
The study identified the tailoring department as the department with maximum defects by using voice of customer and critical to quality tools. An AI-integrated Six Sigma approach was applied to identify and eliminate nonproductive stages, and a new facility layout was designed to enhance productivity and customer satisfaction.
Findings
The use of the factor rating method and simulation using Arena software led to an improved sigma level from 1.597 to 2.237, representing an increment of about 40%. Additionally, the defects per million opportunities reduced from 461,538 to 230,769. The study can help production industry management to optimize facility layouts and improve overall production line efficiency.
Practical implications
This study addresses the lack of published research on the use of an integrated approach of Six Sigma DMAIC with AI in the retail and distribution sector of Saudi Arabia, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study demonstrates how this approach may significantly boost SMEs’ performance and provides a basis for future research in this area.
Originality/value
This study provides a practical example of how an integrated approach of Six Sigma DMAIC with AI can be used in the retail and distribution sector of Saudi Arabia to enhance operational excellence and continuous improvement. The study highlights the potential benefits of this approach for SMEs in the region and provides a framework for future research.
Keywords
Citation
Abualsauod, E.H. (2023), "RETRACTED: Quality improvement in retail-distribution of Saudi thobe using six-sigma", International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-02-2023-0091
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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