In recent years, Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has been a recurrent theme in the literature on Lean Six Sigma (LSS), given the synergies that can arise from their combination. However, their joint implementation presents several challenges. In this article, a systematic literature review (SLR) of research on I4.0 and LSS integration was performed. This review involved five database platforms and included seventy-four articles providing state-of-the-art knowledge on the topic, focusing on the barriers to and enablers of integration. As a result, 20 integration barriers were identified, highlighting the high implementation cost, long learning curve, and technology incompatibility as the main barriers. Seventeen enablers were found to facilitate and guarantee implementation success, highlighting investment in IT infrastructure and employee training, stakeholder involvement, and top management support. In addition, the article discusses actions to facilitate I4.0 and LSS integration in practice, determined by connecting the identified enablers to their corresponding barriers. Finally, the SLR identifies several avenues for future research.

The Lean Six Sigma (LSS) philosophy and sustainability have become topics of interest since the 1990s; they have generally been analyzed together since 2012. Numerous professionals, managers, and researchers have sought methodologies by which to assess their impact and know their effectiveness within companies. During the past decade, the application of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) has been widely accepted in various modeling, prediction, or multivariate analyses as a way to measure the impact of LSS on sustainability. This study conducts a literature review to identify the use of PLS-SEM in measuring the impact of LSS on sustainability. A systematic review methodology has been employed, applying five search criteria to three scientific database platforms. This approach has been helpful to identify PLS-SEM as a valuable methodology for measuring the impact of LSS on sustainability. One of the research findings is that LSS practices positively impact 83% of economic indicators, 78% of environmental indicators, and 70% of social indicators. This article creates a theoretical foundation for future research on these issues, outlining research opportunities to generate future studies. It also allows researchers and managers who are interested in improving sustainability indicators to access valuable knowledge regarding what types of LSS tools could be used.

Purpose: This study aims to determine how shrimp farms perceive the service of a shrimp feed company by assessing the impact of service quality and price fairness on customer satisfaction and loyalty in a business-to-business industry. Design/methodology/approach: The research utilised the Servperf questionnaire on 193 shrimp producers who have commercial relationships with the shrimp feed company evaluated. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was employed to identify direct and indirect relationships between the variables using SmartPLS 4.0. An importance-performance map analysis also provided practical insights for top management. Findings: The results show that only the dimensions of reliability and assurance significantly influence customer satisfaction. Also, customer satisfaction has a strong relationship with customer loyalty. Moreover, price fairness is the only predictor that can influence customer loyalty directly and indirectly via customer satisfaction. Practical implications: The current study’s results provide valuable information for managers in the shrimp feed industry. These findings assist managers in developing tailored marketing strategies to deliver commercial benefits and suggest enhancing customer satisfaction to foster greater loyalty to their products and services. Originality/value: This study focuses on specific business-to-business companies, particularly in developing countries, such as the shrimp feed company. Most existing research predominantly addresses business-to-consumer sectors. Furthermore, this research also tests the predictive relevance of a model. The balance between explanation and prediction is relevant for developing managerial recommendations.

Purpose: This study aims to determine how integrating Industry 4.0 technologies and Lean Manufacturing practices impacts the sustainability indicators of Ecuadorian manufacturing industries seeking to be competitive in the global market by adopting new hybrid strategies. Design/methodology/approach: An online questionnaire was administered to executives from 131 Ecuadorian companies; the vast majority belong to the manufacturing sector. The theoretical model, which evaluated four hypotheses, was analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling with SmartPLS 4.1.1.4, considering 12 lean techniques, 7 Industry 4.0 technologies and 3 sustainability pillars. Findings: The findings confirm that Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 positively impact sustainability, albeit with moderate effects. However, the influence of Industry 4.0 shows a stronger association with sustainability and is consistent with a mediating role in the relationship between Lean Manufacturing and Sustainability. The Importance–Performance Map Analysis showed that most lean techniques have high levels of implementation but marginal returns in sustainability, while digital technologies, particularly big data, have low levels of use but high potential impact, making them strategic priorities for companies. Research limitations/implications: This study is limited to Ecuadorian companies willing to participate, so although the results are considered a representative sample, this may limit the results’ generalizability. The same applies to Lean Manufacturing implementation, which is limited to 12 practices and 7 Industry 4.0 technologies, so future studies could include additional techniques. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on the impact of Lean Manufacturing tools, both “human” and “technical,” on the performance of Ecuadorian companies, considering the three pillars of sustainability. This is also the case with Industry 4.0 technologies. Furthermore, it contributes to other studies conducted in different countries that support the benefits and competitive advantages of implementing lean practices in organizations. This study helps identify techniques that could significantly impact sustainable improvement, allowing companies to make decisions about areas for improvement in their processes.