Confirmation of Candidature - Lean and Design For Six Sigma For New Product Development Process Framework For Agri-Business Waste

The agribusiness sector in Sri Lanka plays a vital role in the national economy, contributing approximately 4% share of the GDP. However, it generates a significant amount of untreated waste. This led to a decrease productivity in agribusiness and adversely affect to the environment. Therefore, this study aims to develop a New Product Development process framework that incorporates this agribusiness waste, by transforming agribusiness waste into valuable products. Thereby it supports to achievement of sustainability goals in economic, social, and environmental contexts.

The aim of this study is to adopt the DMADV (Design, Measure, Analysis, Design, and Verify) process, under the Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) approach to help develop a New Product Development process framework for agribusinesses in Sri Lanka. The study is structured into three stages; 1. Identify the agri-businesses wastes 2. Develop a preliminary framework for the New Product Development Process, and 3. Investigate the preliminary framework. These three stages are closely interconnected. The study objectives will be addressed by gathering primary data, through in-depth interviews with ten agribusiness experts for stage 1 and stage 2 respectively. As for stage 3, ten case organisations including five small medium, and five large-scale agribusinesses will be selected, and two interviews (one from the managerial level and one from the operational level agribusiness expert) will be conducted in each case organisation.

This developed New Product Development Framework expects to address the adoption of Six Sigma in agribusiness to generate new products by using agro-waste as the primary input and address the gap in the existing literature, where limited studies have been conducted in applying Design For Six Sigma in agribusiness waste. Also, it enriches the interdisciplinary study of product development in Business Management, Operations Management, and Environment Management with Sustainability, and Waste Management. Overall, this New Product Development framework acts as a strategic tool for sustainability and the circular economy model.

For more information, please email the Graduate Research School or phone 04631 1088.