Integrating Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) and Circular Economy (CE) in Construction and Industry

Abstract

The world is going through the Twin Transition, the transition to sustainability and digitization. Yet there remains a large divide between macro-level concepts related to the Circular Economy and their implementation at the micro level, namely the shop floor. The problem this research intends to resolve and answer pertains to the synergy between Green Lean Six Sigma (GLSS) and the Circular Economy (CE). Employing an Action Research paradigm, this study established the concept of Smart Green Value Stream Map (GVSM), a method of illustrating a Triple Waste Stream encompassing terms for delays, losses, and hotspots. GVSM was tested on the pilot study and involved the gathering of data related to delays, chemical inventory, and interviews with 25 industry experts. The primary theoretical contribution of this research is the conceptualization of the Smart GVSM for the Triple Waste Stream, a novel mapping construct that allows for the simultaneous visualization of temporal (Lean), resource (Circular), and environmental waste (Green). This thesis offers a standardized roadmap for managers to prepare for the impending Digital Product Passport (DPP) and ISO59020 standards. The thesis finds that GLSS represents the crucial operative engine which has a very high level of transferability towards modular construction, and other industries in general.