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Success Factors in the Application of Lean and Six-Sigma Methodologies to Healthcare: A Literature Review

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Industrial Engineering and Operations Management (IJCIEOM 2022)

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics ((PROMS,volume 400))

Abstract

To provide a safe and fair-value health service that ensures quality, hospitals must provide efficient processes, trained and committed personnel, appropriate technology and a strategic platform which integrates these aspects effectively. At present, a broad set of tools and methodologies are available, associated to the reconfiguration of processes for enhancing efficiency and enabling excellence and sustainability. Of these, the most noteworthy are Lean and Six-Sigma methodologies. A literature review was performed covering the implementation of these methodologies in health services over the last 5 years. The aim was to determine the current approach in this sector and propose guidelines aligned with the future challenges and the needs of healthcare managers. The influence of team management strategies in the final project outcomes has also been addressed representing a novelty.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISEP – School of Engineering, Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Ana Rita Queijo, Sara Reis, Luís Coelho, Luís Pinto Ferreira & F. J. G. Silva

  2. CIETI – Center for Innovation in Engineering and Industrial Technology, Porto, Portugal

    Sara Reis & Luís Coelho

  3. INEGI – Instituto de Ciência e Inovação em Engenharia Mecânica e Engenharia Industrial, Porto, Portugal

    Luís Pinto Ferreira & F. J. G. Silva

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  1. Ana Rita Queijo
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  2. Sara Reis
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  3. Luís Coelho
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  4. Luís Pinto Ferreira
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  5. F. J. G. Silva
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Correspondence to Luís Pinto Ferreira .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering, Universidad Anáhuac, Anáhuac Huixquilucan, Mexico

    Victor Manuel López Sánchez

  2. Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

    Francisco Gaudêncio Mendonça Freires

  3. Industrial Engineering and Management, Universidade Lusófona, Lisbon, Portugal

    João Carlos Gonçalves dos Reis

  4. DEGEIT, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Joana Maria Costa Martins das Dores

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Queijo, A.R., Reis, S., Coelho, L., Ferreira, L.P., Silva, F.J.G. (2022). Success Factors in the Application of Lean and Six-Sigma Methodologies to Healthcare: A Literature Review. In: López Sánchez, V.M., Mendonça Freires, F.G., Gonçalves dos Reis, J.C., Costa Martins das Dores, J.M. (eds) Industrial Engineering and Operations Management. IJCIEOM 2022. Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics, vol 400. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14763-0_2

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