We study appointment scheduling problems in continuous time. A finite number of clients are scheduled such that a function of the waiting time of clients, the idle time of the server, and the lateness of the schedule is minimized. The optimal schedule is notoriously hard to derive within...

In service systems, in order to balance the server’s idle times and the customers’ waiting times, one may fix the arrival times of the customers beforehand in an appointment schedule. We propose a procedure for determining appointment schedules in such a D/G/1-type of system by sequentially...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the use of the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology in a construction company. Design/methodology/approach – In our study we analyze 62 LSS improvement projects carried out within a Dutch company. In our analysis we focus on both speed, in terms of...

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to reflect upon the ramifications of two decades of Lean Six Sigma implementations in Dutch healthcare institutions in the light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The authors provide an evaluation of the impact that Lean Six...