Accomplishing Sustainability in Manufacturing System for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) through Lean Implementation

Abstract

Business enterprises such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in economic development but struggle for sustainability. A business enterprise such as a manufacturing unit tries many technological innovations and strategic initiatives to accomplish sustainability in the manufacturing system. Lean manufacturing implementation is one such initiative that helps SMEs manufacture value-added products with increased profitability and waste minimization. However, lean implementation in SMEs is challenging. Hence, it is essential to follow a systematic framework and control the critical success factors (CSFs) in attempting lean implementation. The purpose of this research is to find, evaluate, and rank the CSFs of lean implementation of SMEs so that they may be controlled to accomplish successful lean implementation. The CSFs of lean implementation found by an in-depth assessment of the literature are modeled using the interpretative structural modeling (ISM) approach. MICMAC analysis is also used in classifying and understanding the significance of each lean implementation CSF. ISM and MICMAC provide the relationship modeling to reveal the inter-relationships of each lean implementation CSF. Subsequently, the ISM model is validated using the Delphi technique. The interpretative ranking process (IRP) has been applied to rank the CSFs of lean implementations. The results show that sustainability in a manufacturing system, financial capability, and employee involvement hold significant importance in lean implementations in manufacturing SMEs. Practicing managers may benefit from revisiting their lean implementation plans and respective aligned strategies. They will also be in a position to identify and focus on the scarce resources required for the subsequent lean implementations.

Exploring the Lean Implementation Barriers in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Using Interpretive Structure Modeling and Interpretive Ranking Process

“…It also makes it difficult to implement sustainable lean practices in the organization. The importance of lean implementation barriers [44] in the manufacturing sector of SMEs is also in line with the other lean implementation studies for sustainability in manufacturing [51,52]. Belhadi et al [34] provide several solutions to overcome the LBs, which include: commitment and participation of management, adoption of simple measurement and key performance indicators, development of an organizational learning culture, and early deployment of lean culture through training and allocation of sufficient time and resources for change.…”

Indirect Effect of Customer Relations on Leadership/Top Management, Employee Relations and Process Management in Examining the Readiness of SMEs to Implement Lean Initiatives

“…Organizational performance in manufacturing SMEs is enhanced by employee improvement routines at different phases of Lean practice implementation, according to Knol, Slomp, Schouteten, Lauche, Knol, et al (2018). Several studies reveal that employee relations play a critical role in the effective application of lean in SMEs firms (Alexander et al, 2019;Knapic et al, 2022;Qureshi et al, 2022) H2: Employee relations have a positive and significant effect on process management.…”

Challenges Facing Artificial Intelligence Adoption during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Investigation into the Agriculture and Agri-Food Supply Chain in India

“…The driving-power of a parameter is the total number of parameters, by itself included, that it assists in achieving. The dependence also reflected the total number of criteria that it assists in achieving [118][119][120]. Then from the FR-M, the corresponding "reachability-set (R-S)" and "antecedent-set (A-S)" for each-element was found, where the R-S included the same parameter and other parameters that it helps to achieve, and similarly, the A-S also included the same parameter in addition to other parameters that help in achieving it.…”