Development of an Integrated Lean–Six Sigma–SCOR Framework for Enhancing Tilapia Supply Chain Performance in Ubon Ratchathani

Abstract

This study analyzes the structure and performance of the tilapia supply chain in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand, and develops an integrated improvement framework combining the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model, Lean principles, and the Six Sigma DMAIC methodology. Despite producing 11,601 tons annually with a value of 670.9 million baht, the provincial supply chain continues to face structural inefficiencies, weak coordination, and unequal value distribution among stakeholders. A qualitative single-case study design was employed, with primary data collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and field observations involving 20 informants across four stakeholder groups: breeding farms, cage-based grow-out farms, transporters/wholesalers, and retailers. SCOR was used to map and evaluate supply chain processes, Lean analysis identified non-value-added activities, and DMAIC guided systematic problem analysis and improvement design. The results reveal that the Plan process is the most critical bottleneck across all actors due to the absence of demand forecasting and information sharing, leading to reactive sourcing, poorly timed production, and fragmented delivery processes. Lean analysis further identifies Transportation and Waiting as the dominant waste categories, driven by uncoordinated routing and repeated handling of live fish. Performance evaluation using a structured five-point Likert scoring procedure indicates low efficiency in delivery lead time (2/5), transportation cost efficiency (2/5), and stakeholder coordination (1/5), while order fulfillment reliability is moderate (3/5). Based on these findings, the study proposes seven improvement strategies across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons, including demand information-sharing mechanisms, route consolidation, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification, farmer cooperative development, and a conceptual digital supply chain platform to enhance coordination, transparency, and efficiency. The study demonstrates how an integrated SCOR–Lean–DMAIC framework can systematically diagnose and address structural, operational, and systemic challenges in smallholder-based aquaculture supply chains