Pathway towards green Lean Six Sigma and industry 4.0 adoption: exploring its critical success factors in a developing economy

Purpose The present work investigates Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for the successful execution of Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) in the Indian manufacturing sector in alignment with Industry 4.0 (I4.0). Design/methodology/approach A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to ensure a comprehensive and structured examination of existing studies. Relevant articles were sourced from well-established electronic databases, including Science Direct, Taylor & Francis, Elsevier, Emerald, Google Scholar and Scopus, to identify the CSFs for the integration of GLSS with I4.0 technologies. Grey relational analysis was subsequently applied to prioritize the identified CSFs. Additionally, the findings of the study were validated using the best-worst method. Findings This study aims to identify and model the CSFs of GLSS-I4.0 initiatives that are crucial for the successful implementation of GLSS in manufacturing environments aligned with I4.0 technologies. A comprehensive review of the existing literature was carried out to identify 27 relevant CSFs within the GLSS-I4.0 framework that effectively address the specific needs of the manufacturing sector. The study reveals that CSFs 21 (Focused on leveraging technological innovation and industry best practices), CSFs 13 (Managing organizational change within GLSSI4.0 initiatives), CSFs 18 (Built-in flexibility and responsiveness within the GLSSI4.0 model), CSFs 10 (An organized approach to embedding I4.0 within GLSS), CSFs 1 (Robust project management and supervision), CSFs 19 (A culture of adaptability and continuous improvement aligned with GLSSI4.0 implementation), CSFs 20 (Institutional readiness for GLSS implementation supported by I4.0 technologies) and CSFs 12 (Availability of standard operating procedures for GLSS-I4.0 integration) were recognized as highly significant CSFs in enabling the successful integration of GLSS with I4.0 technologies and were considered as most significant CSFs for integrating GLSS approach with I4.0 technologies. Research limitations/implications The study provides a strategic roadmap for the practitioners to facilitate the effective execution of GLSS practices within the I4.0 context. The integration of GLSS with I4.0 technologies offers a significant competitive advantage in the contemporary industrial landscape by enhancing an organization’s ability to deliver customized products that meet dynamically evolving customer requirements. Originality/value This study represents the first comprehensive investigation of CSFs for integrating GLSS with I4.0 technologies in the context of the Indian manufacturing sector Keywords: Manufacturing sectors; Green Lean Six Sigma; Industry 4.0; Critical Success Factors; Gray Relational Analysis; Best Worst Method.