The Adoption of Lean Six Sigma in the UK ‘Third Sector’ to Reduce and Control Waste to Promote Good Parctice in Supply to overcome Food Insecurity Amongst the Urban Poor.

Shokri, Alireza and Heron, Graeme (2014) The Adoption of Lean Six Sigma in the UK ‘Third Sector’ to Reduce and Control Waste to Promote Good Parctice in Supply to overcome Food Insecurity Amongst the Urban Poor. In: 5th International Conference on Lean Six Sigma, 30th June-1st July 2014, Edinburgh, Scotland.

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Abstract

Purpose: To introduce lean six sigma to a warehousing operation of a UK ‘third sector’ charity to reduce and control food waste during storage and distribution.
Research Approach: This research takes an action research approach, with the principal investigator adopting a reasearcher / facilitator role in the analysis receipt, initial storage, put away, layout flows, picking, loading and pre-despatch, as well as rudimentary data communication flows. Interviews are also being undertaken to allow for the creation of narratives for consideration in juxtaposition to our DMAIC outputs.
Findings: Our ongoing research is revealing that this rapidly growing sector has by its genesis, led to the development of largely ‘ad hoc’ unbalanced structures and flows. At a functional level, once organisational readiness has been established, there are a number of lean six sigma measures where potential benefits extend both up and downstream from the case organisation itself.
Practical Impact: The aim of our research has not been to arbitrarily create specifications for operational efficiencies; rather it has been to work with a third sector organisation to assess operational standards utilising a more engageable RUMBA (Reasonable, Understandable, Measurable, Believeable, Achievable) system to evaluate the operational appropriateness of current measures, alloyed with DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyse, Implement, Control) to develop and facilitate system change to create a model appropriate to the sector and its limitations. To date we have found little evidence against gerneralisability, which also indicates that our final models may have a place in legacy phases of humanitarian logistics.
Originality: The research presented provides a unique and novel analysis of operational efficiencies in the ‘third sector’ and its rolein established flows and in serving an increasing demand for food banks , through the acceptance of process controls, metrics and management techniques to minimise food waste and increase efficiencies.

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