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Purpose: This study aimed at implementing lean six sigma to evaluate the productivity and manufacturing waste in the production line of a paper companyMethodology/Approach: The study is a case study in nature. The method illustrates how lean six sigma (LSS) is used to evaluate the existing production process in a paper production company with focus on productivity and manufacturing waste. The study considered a real-time problem of customer’s dissatisfaction. The gathered data is based on machine functionality (up time, down time and cycle time); materials and labour flow at every process stages of the production line. The optimization of the production process was based on lean tools like value stream mapping, process cycle efficiency, Kaizen, 5S and pareto chartFindings: Based on lean six sigma application, it was discovered that the present production performance was below standard and more manufacturing wastes were generated. The present productivity and manufacturing wastes are reported as low process cycle efficiency (23.4 %), low takt time (4.11 sec), high lead time (43200sec), high number of products not conforming to six sigma values, high down time (32.64 %) and excess labour flow (33). After the implementation of the lean six sigma tools for certain period of time, there are lots of improvements in the production line in terms of all the parameters considered.Research Limitation/ Implications:  The study has demonstrated an application of lean six sigma in the case of solving real-time problems of productivity and manufacturing wastes which have a direct implication on customer’s satisfaction. The lesson learned and implications presented can still be further modeled using some lean based software for validityOriginality/Value: The study has contributed to the body of knowledge in the field of LSS with focus to process based manufacturing, unlike most literature in the field concentrate more on discrete based manufacturing.

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This paper describes a qualitative research design adopted in this study guided by deployment of a Grounded Theory (GT) methodology which was deployed to synthesize literature on technology adoption and digital transformation with an objective of developing theory. The philosophical worldview adopted was interpretivism/constructivist of a qualitative grounded theory inductive (theory building) approach where secondary data was sourced from industry reports and related academic peer reviewed literature. The grounded theory method was used to synthesize data which resulted in emergent dimensions that underpin digital transformation and technology adoption in the postal sector in the context of Southern Africa. The careful and laborious method of theoretical sampling, constant comparison and theoretical coding which underprops grounded theory research ensued in thirteen dimensions which were further advanced until theoretical saturation was established, the theoretical saturation resulted with emergence of the ten themes reinforced by constructs/concepts with associated allocated codes. The ten themes that emerged from the grounded theory research are adoption, shared vision, digital competitiveness, digital ecosystem, digital capability, digital investment, diverging interests, customer insights, digital culture, and operational efficiency. These emergent themes are the basis of the next leg of the research which is to develop a dynamic model archetypical of the digital embracing dynamics in the postal service in Southern Africa employing the System Dynamics modelling approach.