Critical appraisal of Professor Jiju Antony’s contribution to operational excellence research: an analysis of three decades of research career

Purpose The primary objective of this investigation is to assess Professor Jiju Antony’s contributions to operational excellence (OpEx) through thematic and bibliometric analysis. The article comprehensively explains his research impact and influence by critically appraising his extensive work. Additionally, it identifies opportunities for future research in underexplored domains, such as digital transformation and sustainability in quality management, promoting innovation and assisting future researchers in addressing contemporary challenges. Design/methodology/approach Current research utilises bibliometric methods to examine the bibliographic data of publications indexed in Scopus and Google databases to analyse the work of Professor Antony, aiming to explore his areas of contribution in the context of the evolution of OpEx research themes. The data is analysed using the VoSviewer and descriptive statistical methods for various analyses, such as top-cited publications, highly cited journals, bibliographic coupling of countries and co-cited references, frequently cited authors, and most prominent keywords. Findings The extensive body of research produced by Professor Antony over the past three decades has significantly shaped the field of OpEx, mainly through his contributions to Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Six Sigma, and Quality 4.0. A critical appraisal of Professor Antony’s work reveals several areas that offer opportunities for further exploration. Professor Antony’s contributions have provided insight into specific OpEx themes. However, longitudinal studies that track the long-term effects of OpEx initiatives in organisations could provide an even more comprehensive understanding of their sustainability and effectiveness. Although Professor Antony has addressed the integration of OpEx with Industry 4.0, further empirical research is needed to examine how digital transformation tools, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics, can be systematically incorporated into continuous improvement frameworks. Also, Professor Antony could collaborate with scholars in organisational behaviour, psychology, and leadership studies to better understand the cultural and human dimensions of OpEx. Originality This study contributes to the theoretical and practical knowledge of OpEx by analysing the understudied aspects of his work. Aligning with new concerns like digitisation and sustainability, it promotes using novel techniques and supports interdisciplinary approaches. Professor Antony’s concepts and insights provide industry experts with a pragmatic approach to tackling real-world challenges. By building upon his extensive contributions, scholars and practitioners can continue to advance the field of OpEx, ensuring its relevance in an era of rapid technological and organisational change.