About the Project
This project investigates the benefits, limitations, effectiveness and implications of establishing a business excellence strategy and tool amongst Small to Medium Sized Enterprises in relation to meeting the objectives of the development of the regional powerhouse. The research will integrate a process and business improvement strategy with micro and macro-economic measures in order to identify the feasibility of promoting such tools to develop a sustainable powerhouse in the economy. The research has both research and practical implications, since there is significant gap in research application on Lean Six Sigma (LSS) as a professional tool in SMEs especially in Northern England. This research can also promote an integrated conceptual model or framework to enable developing powerhouse in developed or developing economies. This research potentially has also great practical implications to introduce a practical and sustainable systematic and data driven tool for SMEs to establish their position or their supplier’s and customer’s position to achieve sustainable powerhouse.
This research aims to investigate the relationship between the response to establishing a systematic business excellence tool and critical measures to develop powerhouse, as a newly developed strategic and economic framework.
The projected methodology involves both deductive and inductive approaches where the quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis will be conducted. While interview with key people involved in powerhouse development in northern England could generate the theoretical platform, the questionnaire survey will target the service and manufacturing SMEs in northern England to test the role of LSS in developing powerhouse. This is to test the developed theoretical platform, which is effectiveness of LSS towards promoting Powerhouse economy.
The finding of this research study could be generalised for any economy in developed and developing countries. This research project generates significant data and information for policy makers and business owners in the region that may be utilised for powerhouse development practices and strategies. The northern powerhouse is a current contemporary economic and business element in the UK and this research project would underline the practical and research implications in relation to moment of truth.
This research study has also a niche reach to the research and knowledge pool with a narrow emphasise on an integrated approach towards LSS, SMEs and economy. This approach is currently unique and original in research and knowledge development. Therefore, there is a great potential of providing novel and high ranking research outputs as the result of this research project. The review of statistical and technical approach of LSS in not in our research agenda for this research project, instead the strategic effectiveness of this tool will be investigated. Therefore, there is no need of prior technical knowledge or competence about LSS or statistics to do this research project.
It is expected that this research project would have a critical role in developing the Research Excellence Framework (REF), which is a critical research quality measurement tool for many academic institutions due to great level of research emphasise and impact case study. The social, managerial, environmental and economic impact could be addressed towards businesses, policy makers and local authorities.
Eligibility and How to Apply
Please note eligibility requirement:
• academic excellence i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters with distinction.’
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see
https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/
Please ensure you quote the advert reference above on your application form.
Start Date: 3 October 2016
References
Peer reviewed Journal Articles:
Shokri, A. Waring, T. and Nabhani, F. (2016), “Investigating the readiness of people in manufacturing SMEs to embark on Lean Six Sigma projects: An empirical study in the German manufacturing sector”, International Journal of Operations and Production Management, Forthcoming
Shokri, A. and Nabhani, F. (2015), “LSS, a problem solving skill for graduates and SMEs: Case Study of investigation in a UK Business School curriculum”, International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Vol. 6 No. 2, pp. 176-202.
Shokri, A. Oglethorpe, D. Nabhani, F. (2014), “Evaluation of sustainability in the UK fast Food Supply Chain”, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 25 No. 8, pp. 1224-1244.
Shokri, A. Oglethorpe, D. Nabhani, F. (2014), “Application of Six Sigma in food distribution SME to improve logistical measures”, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 25 No. 7, pp. 998-1027.
Shokri, A. Nabhani, F. Hodgson, S. (2010), “Supplier Development in a food Supply Chain through Six Sigma”, Robotics & Computer Integrated Manufacturing Journal, Vol. 26, pp 639 – 646.
Shokri, A. Nabhani, F. (2009), “Reducing lead time in a food distribution SME thorough simplified version of Six Sigma methodology”, Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management; Vol. 20, No. 7; pp 957-974.
Peer reviewed Conference Papers:
Sixth International Conference on Lean Six Sigma – Edinburgh, UK, May 2016, “Reducing the scrap rate in an electronic manufacturing SME through Lean Six Sigma methodology”, Shokri, A. Nabhani, F. and Bradley, G.
25th International FAIM Conference – Wolverhampton, UK, June 2015, “Lean Six Sigma approach to increasing operational efficiency: An action research in a meter supply contractor for energy providers”, Shokri, A. Nabhani, F. Catchpole, D.
Fifth International Conference on Lean Six Sigma (LSS) – Edinburgh – June 2014 – The Adoption of Lean Six Sigma in the UK ‘Third Sector’ to Reduce and Control Waste to Promote Good Practice in Supply to overcome Food Insecurity Amongst the Urban Poor.; G, heron; A. Shokri.
Fifth International Conference on Lean Six Sigma (LSS)– Edinburgh – June 2014 - Investigating the readiness of people in manufacturing SMEs to embark on LSS projects: An empirical research for European manufacturing SMEs; A. Shokri.
Northumbria University Research Conference – Newcastle – May 2013 - Role of Six Sigma training and education in knowledge and skill exchange between universities and businesses; A. Shokri
First International Conference on Lean Six Sigma (LSS) for Higher Education – Glasgow – June 2013 - Evaluating Lean Six Sigma role in reducing the gap between higher education and industry: Case Study of a UK based Business School; A. Shokri.
FAIM International Conference – Helsinki, Finland- June 2012- Assessment of key sustainability indicators in a UK fast food supply chain: a life cycle perspective, A. Shokri, D. Oglethorpe, F. Nabhani.
Technology Futures Institute Annual Research Day “Engineering for a Sustainable Future Supporting Your Business” – Teesside – May 2011 – Application of Six Stigma Methodology in a Food Distribution SME to Improve Logistical Measures – Research of a Doctoral Research; A. Shokri, F. Nabhani.
International Conference of Six Sigma – Glasgow – March 2011 – Six Sigma application in a food distribution SME to improve the logistical measures; A.Shokri; D.Oglethorpe, F.Nabhani
Research Seminar – Teesside – May 2010 - promoting the Application of new approach of the Six Sigma for business improvement in North Based SMEs; A.Shokri; F.Nabhani.
FAIM International Conference – Teesside – July 2009 - Improving transport productivity in a food distribution SME through Six Sigma methodology; A.Shokri; F.Nabhani.
FAIM International Conference – Teesside – July 2009 - Supplier Development in a food distribution SME – A.Shokri; F.Nabhani.
5th International Conference of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) – Edinburgh – 1st July 2014 – Reducing the Waste in food supply networks, http://www.sml.hw.ac.uk/departments/business-management/workshop
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