Lean implementation in healthcare: A systematic review

K. Sathish Kumar , R. Venkatesh Babu , K. P. Paranitharan , A. Saravana Kumar; Lean implementation in healthcare: A systematic review. AIP Conf. Proc. 5 March 2024; 2935 (1): 020011. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0198917

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Service organizations are implementing lean more rapidly than manufacturing organizations, and healthcare organizations are embracing continuous improvement practices. However, relatively few research studies have been carry out on lean six sigma in the healthcare sector as far as motivating factors, challenges, critical success factors, and benefits are concerned. Taking advantage of this opportunity to present the key success factors, motivating factors, limitations, and benefits of implementing lean six sigma in healthcare, along with future research gaps. The author collected the secondary data from the literature from the period from 2011 to 2022 to understand the trend of the research. A total of 118 research papers were identified across the 78 referred journals recognized by the Association of Business School ranking (2021). In the healthcare sector, this SLR technique helps identify current trends, gaps, and future opportunities for lean six sigma research. This study provides directions for healthcare manager to embark the lean six sigma journey aligned with strategic objective, when rightly adapting in healthcare sector.