Lean Six Sigma Approach for Simultaneous Quality Improvement of Courses in Higher Education Institutions During COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • K. Govindhankutty Jayamohan Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India
  • A. Balakrishnan Bhasi Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32890/ijms2024.31.2.10

Keywords:

Lean Six SIgma, DMAIC, higher education, Covid-19, e-learning

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess whether Lean Six Sigma can improve the quality of teaching-learning processes in higher educational institutions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The integration of e-learning technologies with lean six sigma (LSS). DMAIC stands for five phases of sig sigma project: define, measure, analyze, improve, and control was applied to implement quality assurance in the teaching-learning process. Action research was adopted in 30 courses of a particular engineering programme. The methodology was applied as a course improvement tool, and the challenges encountered during the implementation were also studied. The LSS DMAIC methodology could successfully improve the quality of various courses simultaneously through online mode during the Covid-19 pandemic. The adopted methodology could assist in effectively responding during the present stage of uncertainty and provide stakeholders with guidelines to deal with the post-pandemic era. In terms of practical implications, this study discusses a new approach to improving the quality of the teaching-learning process in higher educational institutions. The LSS DMAIC is applied with the help of online educational and social media platforms for the simultaneous improvement of courses in a particular engineering programme.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Antony, J. (2015). Challenges in the deployment of LSS in the higher education sector: Viewpoints from leading academics and practitioners International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 64(6), 893-899.

Antony, J., Snee, R., & Hoerl, R. (2017). Lean six sigma: Yesterday, today and tomorrow. International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, 34(7), 1073-1093.

Arafeh, M. (2016). Leveraging six sigma tools and methodology to improve student English Language performance at elementary school. American Journal of Operations Research, 6(4), 261-274. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajor.2016.64026

Azorin, C. (2020). Beyond Covid-19 supernova. Is another education coming? Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 5(3/4), 381-390. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPCC-05-2020-0019

Balzer, W. K., Francis, D. E., Krehbiel, T. C., & Shea, N. (2016). A review and perspective on lean in higher education. Quality Assurance in Education, 24(4), 442-462.

Chapman, C., & Bell, I. (2020). Building back better education systems: Equity and Covid-19. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 5(3/4), 227-236. https://doi.org/10.1108/ JPCC-07-2020-0055.

Douglas, J., Antony, J., & Douglas, A. (2015).Waste identification and elimination in HEIs: The role of lean thinking. International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, 32(9), 970-981. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJQRM-10-2014-0160

Erdoğan, A., & Canatan, H. (2015). Literature search consisting of the areas of six sigma’s usage. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 195, 695-704. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. sbspro.2015.06.160

Furterer, S. L., Schneider, K., Key, M. B., Zalewski, D., & Laudenberger, M. (2019). Implementing lean six sigma and discrete-event simulation for tutoring operations in higher education institutions. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 10(4), 909-927.

Hall, T., Connolly, C., Ó Grádaigh, S., Burden, K., Kearney, M., Schuck, S., Bottema, J., Cazemier, G., Hustinx, W., Evens, M., Koenraad, T., Makridou, E., & Kosmas, P. (2020). Education in precarious times: A comparative study across six countries to identify design priorities for mobile learning in a pandemic. Information and Learning Sciences, 121(5/6). https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-04-2020-0089

Katz, P. M. (2016). High-tech or high-touch? Online learning and independent higher education. [Online], Project Report, the Council of Independent Colleges, Washington, DC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED569215.pdf

Li, N., Laux, C. M., & Antony, J. (2019). How to use lean six sigma methodology to improve service process in higher education: A case study. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 10(4), 883-908.

Majid, S., & Elmira, Z. (2015).The role of six sigma in improving the quality of higher education institutions. The SIJ Transactions on Industrial, Financial & Business Management, 3(6), 93-98.

Miski, A. (2014). Improving customers service at IKEA using six sigma methodology. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 5(1), 1712-1720.

Nadeau, S. (2017). Lean, six sigma and lean six sigma. In higher education: A review of experiences around the world. American Journal of Industrial and Business Management, 7, 59-60. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajibm.2017.75044

O’Reilly, S. J., Healy, J., Murphy, T., & Ó’Dubhghaill, R. (2019). Lean six sigma in higher education institutes: An Irish case study. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 10(4), 948-974.

Pelosi, L., & Vicars, M. (2020). Researching with the Sturm and Drang of Covid-19: Telling tales of teachers’ teaching. Qualitative Research Journal, 20(4), 393-403.

Pyzdek, T. (2003). The six sigma project planner: A step-by-step guide to leading a six sigma project through DMAIC (No. 20735). McGraw-Hill.

Ramasubramanian, P. (2012). Six sigma in educational institutions. International Journal of Engineering Practical Research, 1(1), 1-15.

Raaper, R., & Brown, C. (2020). The Covid-19 pandemic and the dissolution of the university campus: Implications for student support practice. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 5(3/4), 343-349. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPCC-06-2020-0032

Shabad, A. S., & Belokar, R. M. (2016). Review of six sigma methodology and future scope. International Journal of Advanced Research in Engineering, Science & Technology, 3(5), 898-907.

Skidmore, C. (2020, May 4). If universities shift online, we risk more poorer students dropping out. The Guardian, 4. https://www. theguardian.com/education/2020/may/04/if-universities-shift-online-we-risk-more-poorer-students-dropping-out

Sontay, G., & Karamustafaoğlu, O. (2017). A new method for the science teaching: 6-sigma method. Journal of Education and Practice, 8(32), 13-19.

Sunder, M. V., & Antony, J. (2018). A conceptual lean six sigma framework for quality excellence in higher education institutions. International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, 35(4), 87-874.

Sung, H. P. (2003). Six sigma for quality and productivity promotion. Asian Productivity Organisation, Tokyo, Japan.

Svensson, C., Antony, J., Ba-Essa, M., Bakhsh, M., & Albliwi, S. (2015). A lean six sigma program in higher education. International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management, 32(9), 951-969.

Tyagi, P. (2017). Six sigma, an approach to operational excellency. International Journal for Scientific & Development, 4(10), 507-508.

Tetteh, G. (2015). Improving learning outcome using six sigma methodology. Journal of International Education in Business, 8(1), 18-36.

Zuhairi, A., Raymundo, M.R.D.R., & Mir, K. (2020). Implementing quality assurance system for open and distance learning in three Asian open universities: Philippines, Indonesia and Pakistan. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, 15(3), 297-320. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAOUJ-05-2020-0034

Downloads

Published

30-07-2024

Research impact

Harvested 2026-09-07
3 citations, from OpenAlex — the highest of the sources checked

Counts differ between services because each indexes a different body of literature. None of them is the whole picture.

Identifiers DOI 10.32890/ijms2024.31.2.10 OpenAlex W4401200103