Identification of Waste Based on Lean Principles as the Way towards Sustainability of a Higher Education Institution: A Case Study from Indonesia

Abstract

Lean management has generated new approaches to reduce non-value-adding activities in different sectors of the economy, including in higher education systems. Lean principles in higher education institutions (HEIs) contribute positively to sustainability performance. The current study aims to: (a) assess waste in HEIs based on lean principles and even their potential effect on sustainability; (b) establish the relationship among wastes; (c) develop a structural model using Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM); (d) carry out the Matrice d’impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliqué Àun Classement (MICMAC) analysis. In Phase 1 of this study, the identification of waste modes in HEIs was established. In Phase 2, risk assessment of each waste mode was conducted using the waste-Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (w-FMEA) technique. In Phase 3, ISM-MICMAC was used to identify relationships among critical waste modes. The results showed that eighteen waste modes were identified as critical in HEIs—with six waste modes being autonomous determinants; four were dependent determinants, four were linkage determinants, and four were driver determinants. This study is expected to help academicians and practitioners understand HEI’s waste types by listing the critical wastes, mapping their interrelationship, identifying the driving power and dependence, and proposing mitigation actions. It will also contribute to the growing body of literature highlighting the waste in HEIs.

Identification and Prioritization of Lean Waste in Higher Education Institutions (HEI): A Proposed Framework

“…The CLoW calculation consists of two stages: the first stage is calculating the waste score through students, academics, and non-academic staff questionnaires; the second stage is calculating the criticality scale of each type of waste by deans, deputy deans, heads of department, and heads of quality assurance offices. Having four stakeholders, this study represents the population better than the previous studies, which only include one stakeholder [1,20,25,36].…”

“…HEI stakeholders include academic staff, non-academic staff, students, government, industry, and parents [42]. But in several articles, the ranking of waste in HEI is carried out by the committee [20], the director of the study center [25], and academic staff [1,36],. Other several articles identified students as HEI stakeholders [43][44][45][46][47][48].…”

“…Lean manufacturing (LM) has reduced waste and increased efficiency [1]. LM is a method for improving quality and efficiency in manufacturing and service industries [2][3][4].…”

“…Nonetheless, the weaknesses of this study include the subjectivity of the assessment and the use of the arithmetic average of the assessments made by several directors of the study center [25]. Another study used the waste relationship matrix (WRM) [36], failure mode effect analysis (FMEA), and interpretive structural modeling (ISM) [1] to determine the priority of waste reduction. The limitation of this research is that it only used academic staff as respondents from two faculties, and the identification of waste is only in the teaching and learning process.…”

“…The limitation of this research is that it only used academic staff as respondents from two faculties, and the identification of waste is only in the teaching and learning process. Further research can be carried out on other processes and involve all stakeholders [1,36]. Another research possibility is the identification of waste in online, offline, and hybrid teaching.…”