Lean concept selection using modified fuzzy TOPSIS: a case study

Lean manufacturing enables manufacturing organisations to achieve streamlined processes thereby facilitating waste elimination. The concept selection in the context of lean systems involves several criteria and it becomes a multi‐criteria decision making (MCDM) problem. The case study was carried out in an Indian valves manufacturing organisation. Fuzzy TOPSIS has been used for selecting the best lean concept. Based on the values of the closeness index, it has been inferred that the concept A3 (value stream mapping) is the optimal choice. Efforts have been taken to implement VSM in one of the assembly lines of the case organisation. Further the concepts 5S, TPM, Kanban and Kaizen are also being implemented in the organisation based on the ranking generated by fuzzy TOPSIS.