Title: An exploratory study on kaizen muda and organisational sustainability: patients' perspective

Authors: Hardeep Chahal; Fayza

Addresses: PG Department of Commerce, University of Jammu, India ' PG Department of Commerce, University of Jammu, India

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to measure patients' perception towards kaizen muda tool in organisational sustainability. The study used mixed method approach for muda/waste identification, measurement and suggestions for controlling muda/waste in the hospital. The quantitative approach was used for measuring the patients' perception towards kaizen muda/waste and organisational sustainability while qualitative approach was used for gathering patients view points for controlling these wastes. The results revealed five types of mudas/waste namely, overproduction waste, defects, transportation waste, waiting time waste and motion waste present in the hospital environment. The findings suggest that by controlling this mudas/waste the hospital can improve its level of sustainability-economical, social and ecological. The present study provides a platform for further research to be conducted at a larger scale for the development and validation of the kaizen muda/waste and organisational sustainability scale for the healthcare sector.

Keywords: muda elimination; waste identification; waste management; hospital waste; healthcare services; service quality; kaizen muda; organisational sustainability; patient perspectives; waste control; overproduction; defects; transport; waiting time; motion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLER.2016.078249

International Journal of Lean Enterprise Research, 2016 Vol.2 No.1, pp.81 - 94

Received: 20 Nov 2015
Accepted: 30 Apr 2016
Published online: 09 Aug 2016 *

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