Deployment of fuzzy TOPSIS-integrated value stream mapping for a fabrication industry: a case study

Abstract

PurposeThis research aims to identify lean tools and techniques that are needed to be implemented to improve the performance in the fabrication industry. The objective is to find the wastes in manufacturing processes using value stream mapping (VSM) and prioritize the lean tools suitable to enable the attainment of leanness and streamline the processes.Design/methodology/approachVSM tool is applied in the industry to construct the current state map, identify improvement proposals and implement in future state. Fuzzy technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), a multi-criteria decision-making technique (MCDM), is used to prioritize the identified improvement proposals. This study observed that mistake-proof processing and layout organization are the two techniques with the top priority that needs further improvement to enhance the leanness of the organization.FindingsUpon successful implementation, the cycle time is reduced by 14.97%, and total inventory is reduced by 45.67% which leads to the improvement of value addition from 5.88 to 9.21%. Although lean has been adopted for many years, implementation of lean in the fabrication industry has been limited.Practical implicationsThis study addresses the challenges in terms of implementing lean in fabrication industries and practical implications of lean tools and techniques and the prioritization of lean concepts against various lean criteria to enable leanness.Originality/valueThe deployment of improvement prioritization tool integrated with VSM in the context of a fabrication industry is the original contribution of the authors.