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Many hospitals have achieved high levels of lean performance only to lose it later on. This research develops a theoretical understanding of how organisations can sustain lean in healthcare, through a practical and innovative framework to assess the maturity level of lean in healthcare that can be used by both practitioners and academics. Through the analysis of the literature, it was possible to compile 22 main critical success factors of lean sustainability in hospitals. A comparative case study provides evidence to confirm these 22 theoretical propositions, and also to add other 3 new success factors to the framework. The proposed framework allows hospitals to conduct a structured process of change, with all the foundation needed to succeed and sustain the lean journey in the long-term. New insights are revealed by studying hospitals after minimum 18 months of lean implementation and comparing the ones that have achieved a high level of lean sustainability with those that did not. To the best of our knowledge, this article is the first to attempt to bring together the key factors that influence hospitals to sustain lean improvements in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manufacturing companies strive for ever-increasing competitiveness through productivity and quality. This goal can be achieved through the implementation of lean manufacturing and six sigma methodologies. Lean manufacturing adds value by reducing waste, while six sigma eliminates variability. In this context, this article proposes a new framework within Lean Six Sigma circumstances. The framework was proposed by means of an exhaustive literature review which identified the positive points of other Lean Six Sigma frameworks available on literature. The framework was applied to a case study, and the assessments were based on semi-structured questionnaires and analysis of records and documents. The implementation was carried out in a manufacturing company in Brazil, which belongs to an American-based multinational. In the case study described herein, the manufacturing company established the proposed framework to support the combination of lean manufacturing and six sigma and introduced an enterprise-wide culture of project through the proposed Lean Six Sigma framework, which resulted in significant benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the moderating effect of Occupational Health and Safety actions based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations to mitigate the negative effect of COVID-19 on the operational, logistical, marketing (OLMP), and health and safety performance (OHSP) of workers in multinational industries. The development of surveys in companies was the method adopted, which had confirmatory evaluations through Structural Equations Modelling (SEM). As a result, it was confirmed that this is one of the few scientific studies that expectedly validates that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted operational, logistical, market, and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) performance. This is also one of the few research projects to assess the moderating effect of OHS practices based on WHO to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. According to our findings, those practices were able to reduce by at least 50% the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on operational, logistical, and marketing performance. However, they minimize by only 1.8% the negative effects of health and safety performance for the worker, generating absenteeism increasingly due to physical and mental problems. This number could be higher if the social distance could be provided in public transportation and if employees were more aware of the risks of COVID-19 contamination during their social activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, companies have shown growing concerns in relation to the environmental impact of their manufacturing activities. Green supply chain management (GSCM) has been considered by the manufacturers as a feasible option to reduce the environmental impact of operations while simultaneously improving their operational performance. The literature suggests that further research on institutional pressures, performance, and environmental practices are needed, especially in the case of developing countries. The present paper explores the GSCM pressures, practices, and performance observed in suppliers of a Brazilian automotive supply chain. The data were treated using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) provided by SmartPLS software. The results show that the economic and environmental performance of the studied supply chain is positively related to the adoption of GSCM practices. In addition, the present research also identified the institutional pressures that influence this supply chain to pursue green supply chain management practices. The results of this study provide managerial and theoretical approaches for different industries in Brazil to focus on environmental awareness by adopting GSCM practices. In addition, this study helps increase confidence among managers and policy makers of Brazilian companies in the adoption of GSCM practices to improve firm performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleaner Production (CP) is defined as a continuous application of an integrated environmental strategy applied to production, processes and services to increase production efficiency and reduce risks to the environment and people. A lot of survey research has been investigating the adoption level of CP practices around the globe. Despite their contributions, these works do not use a clear and validated construct to represent CP. Also, most of them use only a few constructs to represent CP or do not take into account the CP multi-dimensional structure recognised by the UNEP, the primary international reference in this field. The objective of this article is to contribute to filling this gap by proposing a scale to measure CP. The methodological approach includes specification of theoretical domains and operational definition of constructs, generation of items, face validation, pre-test and scale purification, reliability and validity analysis of the scale. The study is based on responses from 499 researchers and managers obtained in over two successive surveys. Psychometric properties were assessed using Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The proposed scale comprises eight constructs and twenty-five practices. The scale was validated in terms of construct reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity. In practical terms, this research is relevant because it provides companies with an instrument to measure their efforts towards CP. The scale can be useful as a benchmarking tool between companies and industry sectors and also can be used by public policy managers seeking to create or improve environmental regulations. • Proposition of a multi-dimensional scale to measure Cleaner Production. • The scale follows the structure proposed by the UNEP. • It incorporates supply chain management practices. • The study is based on responses from 499 researchers and managers. • Psychometric properties were assessed using Exploratoty Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]