Project selection for integrated lean six sigma and industry 4.0 using hybrid neutrosophic ANP-TOPSIS

Purpose Organisations are striving to increase their overall performance efficiency to cope with growing process complexity due to the development of advanced manufacturing technologies. Lean Six Sigma 4.0 (LSS4.0) approach is a hybrid technique adopted in industries, integrating new technologies with existing LSS approaches to reduce waste. The selection of best-fit projects by industries determines the success of an organisation. This study aims to evaluate and prioritise project alternatives using the inter-valued neutrosophic analytic network process (ANP)-technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). Design/methodology/approach An automotive component manufacturing organisation is identified to carry out a case study. The prioritisation problem is modelled as a multi-criteria decision-making problem. Thirty sub-criteria are identified from a literature review and grouped into six dimensions. The global weights of sub-criteria are obtained using the ANP technique, and the alternative projects are evaluated using the TOPSIS method. Findings The management dimension is found to have a high-priority score of 0.32, followed by the technological dimension with 0.26 score. The project with a closeness coefficient index of 0.97 is concluded as the best-fit project. Practical implications Results of the analysis clearly depict the role and necessity of management commitment and technological infrastructural requirements for LSS4.0 projects in an organisation. The results/inferences of this study aid management and senior managers to identify and focus on significant criteria that have a strong influence on project selection. Originality/value Development of a structured approach for LSS4.0 project selection in manufacturing organisations by describing project evaluation as a decision-making problem and deriving solutions using a neutrosophic number set.