LEAN, SIX SIGMA IN HEALTHCARE: A LITERATURE REVIEW

In recent years, the interest of practitioners and researchers in the use of the Lean Six Sigma tools to improve processes in the medical sector has increased significantly. This paper aims to provide information on the research topics, on the context of the research and the research methodologies approached by the recent scientific literature on the impact of Lean Six Sigma methods on improved operational efficiency, a higher profitability and quality of the processes in the medical sector. Research results are useful both to practitioners in the field who can identity ideas or solutions to the issues they are facing, as well as to scholars in search for future research opportunities. The paper also includes a critical analysis which highlights the advantages and disadvantages of applying the various methods and makes recommendations on their application.