Unveiling the nexus of Industry 4.0 and Lean Six Sigma for sustainable development: insights from bibliometric and structural topic modeling analysis Available to Purchase

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate the alignment between Industry 4.0 and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) in the context of sustainable development, focusing on the reasons for the growing attention to this integration and its implications for sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach This research is designed based on literature overview using a review of bibliometric analysis and structural topic modeling of existing literature to provide evidence on the relationship among Industry 4.0 technologies, LSS practices and sustainable organizational performance.

Findings It is evident from the study that incorporating Industry 4.0 technology with LSS can lead to a great sustainable manufacturing. With the use of digital tools such as Internet of Things sensors, advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, organizations significantly improve real-time monitoring, improve resource allocation and apply predictive maintenance, thus minimizing waste and the environmental effect. This approach also propels innovation and agility and fosters a culture of continuous improvement while evolving around higher-level topics around quality control and strategic management. Findings reveal that these integrations ensure operational excellence and sustainable development.

Research limitations/implications The study provides guidelines for researchers and practitioners working on integration of Industry 4.0 technologies and LSS for enhancing the environmental and resource performance in manufacturing.

Originality/value The novelty of the research is the integration of the knowledge existing on Industry 4.0 and LSS and its contribution in sustainable development perspectives. Moreover, this study may also be useful for other researchers because it provides a general overview of the trends and theoretical contribution that are practically confirmed in the empirical level.