Integrating Industry 6.0 with DMAIC: from systematic review to conceptual framework development – lessons from Ibero-America and Asia

Abstract

Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to review different facets of Industry 6.0 (I6.0). The study also presents a systematic DMAIC-assisted I6.0 framework for enhanced operational excellence (OPEX) and sustainability from the perspectives of Ibero-America and Asia. Design/methodology/approach To comprehend the various know-how and technologies behind I6.0, a systematic literature review methodology has been used in this research. To develop the DMAIC-assisted I6.0 framework, the study uses the design science research method. Findings The theoretical contribution of this paper is that it expands on the principles and approaches of I6.0, leveraging futuristic technological support. The practical contribution of this research is the development of a conceptual implementation framework to drive their organisation towards the implementation of I6.0 for improved OPEX and sustainability. Research limitations/implications Besides useful contributions, the study has certain limitations that need further investigation. Firstly, the proposed framework is validated through expert-based perceptual assessments rather than real-world industrial implementation, thereby warranting further empirical validation in diverse organisational contexts. Next, the developed framework should be viewed as implementation-ready at the conceptual planning level rather than as a universally validated operational model. It is intended to guide organisations in designing I6.0 transformation initiatives, with full-scale industrial deployment and performance evaluation constituting the next stage of research. Furthermore, the framework is formulated from the perspective of Ibero-America and Asia, so its validity in other regions also poses a limitation of the study. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first structured attempts to integrate the emerging I6.0 concepts with the DMAIC methodology for improvement in sustainability and OPEX. The suggested integration does not provide a definitive and exclusive framework, but rather a conceptually grounded basis that might serve as a platform for further theoretical refinement and empirical confirmation. I6.0 notion is addressed in the literature; however, it is a dynamic concept without a universally acknowledged explanation and implementation methodology. Thus, the suggested DMAIC-assisted I6.0 framework can be considered a first organised contribution that enhances the academic understanding of integrated DMAIC-I6.0 and offers the foundation for industrial implementation.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 2026 · DOI ↗