QUALITY PAPER Application of graph-theoretic approach for the evaluation of lean-six-sigma (LSS) critical-success-factors (CSFs) facilitating quality-audits in Indian small & medium enterprises (SMEs) Manisha Lande Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vidya Pratishthan’s Kamalnayan Bajaj Institute of Engineering and Technology (VPKBIET), Baramati, India Dinesh Seth Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University College of Engineering, Doha, Qatar, and Rakesh L. Shrivastava Department of Mechanical Engineering, Y.C. College of Engineering, Nagpur, India Abstract Purpose – One of the major challenges for developing countries is the lack of mechanisms for the evaluation of critical success factors (CSFs) of quality initiatives, which hampers the journey toward sustainability. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) has been one of the most widely used initiatives supporting quality improvement with wastes reduction and facilitating sustainability. To expedite LSS and its spread, it is important to evaluate key CSFs. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to provide an approach for the evaluation of LSS-CSFs for Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a graph theoretic approach and demonstrates the evaluation of LSS-CSFs by proposing an index. The development of index is illustrated using a set of seven prioritized CSFs based on the literature review paper (Lande et al., 2016). Findings – This study guides about the translation of CSFs in the form of an index (number) and will benefit both researchers and practitioners, who wish to study the role of key CSFs for implementation and audit requirements for sustainability. Research limitations/implications – Authors remain confined only to Indian SMEs. Originality/value – LSS possesses the potential to enhance the performance of manufacturing SMEs, but its evaluation is not easy. This attempt for offering a useful evaluation scheme involving CSFs, in the areas of LSS in developing country contexts, is the first. The approach also facilitates both quality audits and benchmarking between different sets of CSFs. The approach is generalizable and can be extended in other areas. Keywords Critical success factors, Small and medium enterprises, Indian, Lean Six Sigma, Graph theory Paper type Research paper 1. Introduction The concept of sustainable development (SD) is understood and practised as a commitment, which ultimately gets translated into actions based on the nature of improvement initiatives, from the top management of the organizations that seek sustained business excellence while International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management © Emerald Publishing Limited 0265-671X DOI 10.1108/IJQRM-05-2019-0166 Received 24 May 2019 Revised 4 October 2019 Accepted 14 October 2019 The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at: https://www.emerald.com/insight/0265-671X.htm Application of graph-theoretic approach