Kharazmi University International Journal of Supply and Operations Management 2383-1359 13 2 2026 05 01 Lean Six Sigma Tools for Optimizing Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises: A Systematic Literature Review 174 203 11821 10.22034/ijsom.2026.111035.3572 EN Thomas Munyai Department of Operations Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa Refentse Lydia Selepe Department of Operations Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa 0000-0002-3174-7444 Olasumbo Makinde Department of Operations Management, Faculty of Management Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa Journal Article 2026 04 29 Objective: Manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face growing competitive pressures due to operational inefficiencies, high defect rates, equipment unreliability and resource constraints. Lean Six Sigma (LSS), which combines Lean waste-reduction with Six Sigma’s data-driven quality-improvement approach, has emerged as an effective methodology for enhancing operational performance. This study synthesizes recent empirical evidence on the application and outcomes of LSS in manufacturing SMEs.Methods: A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was conducted using peer-reviewed journal articles and conference papers indexed in the Scopus database between 2021 and 2025. Studies were identified through a structured Boolean search strategy and screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Bibliometric analysis, keyword co-occurrence mapping, and comparative evaluation were used to identify research trends, key LSS tools, and associated performance outcomes.Results: Findings reveal increasing scholarly interest in LSS implementation within manufacturing SMEs. Strong relationships were identified between LSS tools and performance indicators such as productivity, efficiency, lead-time reduction and quality improvement. Commonly applied tools include DMAIC, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Kaizen, TPM, SMED and Statistical Process Control. Reported outcomes include defect reductions of up to 70%, productivity gains exceeding 20%, reduced cycle times, and improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness of 15-20%.Conclusion: LSS significantly improves operational and quality performance in manufacturing SMEs. Emerging evidence also highlights the integration of LSS with Industry 4.0 technologies, supporting data-driven continuous improvement and sustainable competitiveness http://www.ijsom.com/article_11821_b99f4242922cd10313630b0ecccda1dc.pdf