Published

2023-12-13

Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms

Herramientas lean six sigma para un proceso de ordeño eficiente en granjas lecheras de pequeña escala

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.101868

Keywords:

rural management, small entrepreneurs, lean six sigma production, dairy farming, productivity improvement (en)
gestión rural, pequeños empresarios, producción lean six sigma, ganadería lechera, mejora de la productividad (es)

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This research paper aims to use lean six sigma tools to handle milk in small Brazilian dairy estates. The search for efficiency in this process preponderates in all productive sectors. However, it is still not exploited in the dairy chain, specifically by small-scale producers, although milking is the main income for many of them. In Brazil, small producers are the main suppliers of the chain, and maintaining their competitiveness requires specific actions. Therefore, through the action-research method, four small producers in the center-west of the state of São Paulo, Brazil, were involved in identifying problems in their milking management process, investigating and implementing practical solutions. To this effect, lean tools such as flowcharts, Ishikawa diagrams, value stream mapping, and PDCA cycles were employed, and six feasible improvements were defined. The successful implementation of said improvements led to the acquisition of knowledge by small producers, who received financial returns, i.e., an increase in the amount paid per liter of milk. This research shows that, through interdisciplinarity, positive solutions to problems of different and complex natures, such as those in the dairy chain, can be obtained.

Este artículo de investigación tiene por objetivo utilizar herramientas lean six sigma en el manejo de la leche en propiedades pequeñas de Brasil. La búsqueda de la eficiencia en este proceso es preponderante en todos los sectores productivos. Sin embargo, esta aún no se ha explotado en la cadena láctea, específicamente en el caso de productores de pequeña escala, si bien el ordeño representa el principal ingreso de muchos de ellos. En Brasil, los productores pequeños son los principales proveedores de la cadena, y mantener su competitividad requiere acciones específicas. Por lo tanto, mediante el método de investigación-acción, se involucró a cuatro pequeños productores del centro-oeste del estado de São Paulo, Brasil, investigando e implementando soluciones prácticas. Para este fin, se emplearon herramientas lean como diagramas de flujo, diagramas Ishikawa, mapas de flujo de valor, y ciclos PDCA, definiendo seis mejoras viables. La implementación exitosa de dichas mejoras llevó a la adquisición de conocimientos por parte de los pequeños productores, que recibieron rendimientos financieros, i.e., un aumento en la cantidad pagada por litro de leche. Esta investigación muestra que, a través de la interdisciplinaridad, se pueden obtener soluciones a problemas de naturalezas distintas y complejas, como es el caso de aquellos en la cadena láctea.

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How to Cite

APA

Satolo, E., Ussuna, G. A. & Mac-Lean, P. A. B. (2023). Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms. Ingeniería e Investigación, 43(3), e101868. https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.101868

ACM

[1]
Satolo, E., Ussuna, G.A. and Mac-Lean, P.A.B. 2023. Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms. Ingeniería e Investigación. 43, 3 (Jul. 2023), e101868. DOI:https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.101868.

ACS

(1)
Satolo, E.; Ussuna, G. A.; Mac-Lean, P. A. B. Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms. Ing. Inv. 2023, 43, e101868.

ABNT

SATOLO, E.; USSUNA, G. A.; MAC-LEAN, P. A. B. Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms. Ingeniería e Investigación, [S. l.], v. 43, n. 3, p. e101868, 2023. DOI: 10.15446/ing.investig.101868. Disponível em: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/ingeinv/article/view/101868. Acesso em: 7 mar. 2026.

Chicago

Satolo, Eduardo, Guilherme A. Ussuna, and Priscilla A. B. Mac-Lean. 2023. “ Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms”. Ingeniería E Investigación 43 (3):e101868. https://doi.org/10.15446/ing.investig.101868.

Harvard

Satolo, E., Ussuna, G. A. and Mac-Lean, P. A. B. (2023) “ Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms”, Ingeniería e Investigación, 43(3), p. e101868. doi: 10.15446/ing.investig.101868.

IEEE

[1]
E. Satolo, G. A. Ussuna, and P. A. B. Mac-Lean, “ Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms”, Ing. Inv., vol. 43, no. 3, p. e101868, Jul. 2023.

MLA

Satolo, E., G. A. Ussuna, and P. A. B. Mac-Lean. “ Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms”. Ingeniería e Investigación, vol. 43, no. 3, July 2023, p. e101868, doi:10.15446/ing.investig.101868.

Turabian

Satolo, Eduardo, Guilherme A. Ussuna, and Priscilla A. B. Mac-Lean. “ Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms”. Ingeniería e Investigación 43, no. 3 (July 4, 2023): e101868. Accessed March 7, 2026. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/ingeinv/article/view/101868.

Vancouver

1.
Satolo E, Ussuna GA, Mac-Lean PAB. Lean Six Sigma Tools for Efficient Milking Processes in Small-Scale Dairy Farms. Ing. Inv. [Internet]. 2023 Jul. 4 [cited 2026 Mar. 7];43(3):e101868. Available from: https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/ingeinv/article/view/101868

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