Integration of IR 4.0 into six sigma for sustainability in Malaysia manufacturing industry / Diekola Akanmu and Norshahrizan Nordin

The high competition among manufacturing companies in relations to the food and beverages industry has triggered the industry to evolve into a smart manufacturing system. The present reviewed literature reveals the relationship between industrial revolution 4.0 technologies (IR tech), six-sigma (SS) and sustainable performance. Studies have shown that six sigma practices have significantly impacted organizational performance in manufacturing industry. However, the integrated effects of six-sigma practices and IR 4.0 technologies on sustainable performance are yet to be empirically investigated in the context of food and beverage industry in Malaysia. Therefore, this research intends to address the gap by having a preliminary conceptual approach to the joint effect of SS and IR 4.0 technologies on sustainable performance by reviewing, analyzing and synthesizing previous studies. The study aims to confirm the future direction of food and beverages industry that is recently employing new technologies to its manufacturing system. The consequent study shall be based on data collection from middle management employees who are working and familiar with the production phases of the industry. This study is pivoted from the theories of practice-based view and contingency posing as the underpinning theories. The study reaffirms the importance of operations management practices for any strategic implementation to be successful and how sustainable performance is enhanced through performance variations.