Lean production in SMEs: literature review and reflection on future challenges

ABSTRACT It is an opportune moment to an extended literature review of lean implementation in SMEs given the recent serious research attention. Therefore, this paper presents an extensive review of more than 100 published papers on lean in SMEs. A classification scheme is then suggested. Accordingly, the reviewed papers were classified first according to their research content to six categories: Literature survey, Impact on performance, Critical Success factors, Implementation Framework, Status of implementation, Measurement. Afterwards, research methodologies employed in previous studies were categorized into conceptual, descriptive, comparative, empirical, exploratory cross‐sectional and exploratory longitudinal approaches. Consequently, various emerging issues in this topic were identified, namely, status of lean implementation in SMEs in developing countries, integration of lean in SMEs with green manufacturing, critical success factors of lean implementation in SMEs, suitability of lean tools for SMEs, framework of implementation of lean in SMEs and measurement system of lean change in SMEs.

[1]  Jing Li,et al.  Collaborative transportation planning distinguishing old and new shippers for small-medium enterprise , 2018 .

[2]  Fatima Ezahra Touriki,et al.  Lean Implementation in Small and Medium‐Sized Enterprises in Less Developed Countries: Some Empirical Evidences From North Africa* , 2018 .

[3]  Shyamal Kumar Mondal,et al.  Two layers supply chain in an imperfect production inventory model with two storage facilities under reliability consideration , 2018 .

[4]  Amine Belhadi.  Lean deployment in SMEs , performance improvement and success factors : a case study , 2017 .

[5]  Kannan Govindan,et al.  An investigation on lean-green implementation practices in Indian SMEs using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) approach , 2016 .

[6]  Amine Belhadi,et al.  A framework for effective implementation of lean production in small and medium-sized enterprises , 2016 .

[7]  Farhad Nabhani,et al.  Investigating the readiness of people in manufacturing SMEs to embark on Lean Six Sigma projects: An empirical study in the German manufacturing sector , 2016 .

[8]  Marco Leite,et al.  A road map for implementing lean and agile techniques in SMEs product development teams , 2016 .

[9]  Bin Zhou,et al.  Lean principles, practices, and impacts: a study on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) , 2016, Ann. Oper. Res..

[10]  Dinesh Seth,et al.  Critical success factors for Lean Six Sigma in SMEs (small and medium enterprises) , 2016 .

[11]  R. Kodali,et al.  Interpretive structural modeling and path analysis for proposed framework of lean supply chain in Indian manufacturing industry , 2016 .

[12]  Neena Sinha,et al.  Effect of TQM principles on performance of Indian SMEs: the case of automotive supply chain , 2016 .

[13]  H. Abdul Zubar,et al.  Evaluating lean execution performance in Indian MSMEs using SEM and TOPSIS models , 2016 .

[14]  Osama Alaskari,et al.  Development of a methodology to assist manufacturing SMEs in the selection of appropriate lean tools , 2016 .

[15]  Nurul Fadly Habidin,et al.  Lean six sigma performance improvement tool for automotive suppliers , 2016 .

[16]  Maneesh Kumar,et al.  Determinants and barriers to lean implementation in food-processing SMEs – a multiple case analysis , 2016 .

[17]  Qing Hu,et al.  Lean implementation within SMEs: a literature review , 2015 .

[18]  Manoj Kumar Dora,et al.  House of lean for food processing SMEs , 2015 .

[19]  Fatima Ezahra Touriki.  Road Map for the Implementation of Lean production tools in SMEs , 2015 .

[20]  Dang Minh Nguyen.  A new application model of lean management in small and medium sized enterprises , 2015 .

[21]  A. Rymaszewska.  The challenges of lean manufacturing implementation in SMEs , 2014 .

[22]  Elwyn Graham John,et al.  An empirical analysis of Lean Six Sigma implementation in SMEs – a migratory perspective , 2014 .

[23]  J. R. Jadhav,et al.  Exploring barriers in lean implementation , 2014 .

[24]  Kuldip Singh Sangwan,et al.  Lean manufacturing: literature review and research issues , 2014 .

[25]  Cagatay Iris,et al.  Analyzing relationship between ERP utilization and lean manufacturing maturity of Turkish SMEs , 2014, J. Enterp. Inf. Manag..

[26]  Dirk Van Goubergen,et al.  Application of lean practices in small and medium-sized food enterprises , 2014 .

[27]  M. Handel,et al.  Theories of lean management: an empirical evaluation. , 2014, Social science research.

[28]  Osama Alaskari,et al.  Critical success factors for Lean tools and ERP systems implementation in manufacturing SMEs , 2014 .

[29]  Shahrul Kamaruddin,et al.  IMPLEMENTING THE LEAN SIX SIGMA FRAMEWORK IN A SMALL MEDIUM ENTERPRISE (SME)—A CASE STUDY IN A PRINTING COMPANY , 2014 .

[30]  Taiichi Ohno,et al.  The Barriers to SMEs ’ Implementation of Lean Production and Countermeasures — — Based on SMEs in Wenzhou , 2014 .

[31]  Okpala Kenneth Enoch.  Lean Six Sigma Methodologies and Organizational Profitability: A Review of Manufacturing SMEs in Nigeria , 2013 .

[32]  S. Vinodh,et al.  Lean Six Sigma in SMEs: an exploration through literature review , 2013 .

[33]  Mehmet Fatih Acar,et al.  Drivers of environmental processes and their impact on performance: a study of Turkish SMEs , 2013 .

[34]  Kim Hua Tan,et al.  Green as the new Lean: how to use Lean practices as a catalyst to greening your supply chain , 2013 .

[35]  R. L. Shrivastava,et al.  Identification of performance measures of Lean Six Sigma in small- and medium-sized enterprises: a pilot study , 2013 .

[36]  E. Rauch,et al.  Implementation of Lean Production in Small Sized Enterprises , 2013 .

[37]  Thurasamy Ramayah,et al.  Green Manufacturing Practices and Performance among SMEs: Evidence from a Developing Nation , 2013 .

[38]  P. Garengo,et al.  Lean manufacturing in developing countries: evidence from Indian SMEs , 2012 .

[39]  Govind Sharan Dangayach,et al.  Improving productivity in Indian SMEs , 2012 .

[40]  Rajkumar Roy,et al.  A fuzzy-logic advisory system for lean manufacturing within SMEs , 2012, Int. J. Comput. Integr. Manuf..

[41]  S. R. Devadasan,et al.  Sensitisation of SMEs towards the implementation of Lean Six Sigma – an initialisation in a cylinder frames manufacturing Indian SME , 2012 .

[42]  Andrea Chiarini,et al.  Lean production: mistakes and limitations of accounting systems inside the SME sector , 2012 .

[43]  Sanjay Bhasin,et al.  Prominent obstacles to lean , 2012 .

[44]  Rini van Solingen,et al.  Implementation of Lean Six Sigma in small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in the Netherlands , 2012, J. Oper. Res. Soc..

[45]  Stefano Biazzo,et al.  The Balanced Scorecard for SMEs: A Circular Approach , 2012 .

[46]  Rajesh Arrakal.  Application of Lean in a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Segment- A Case Study of Electronics and Electrical Manufacturing Industry in India , 2012 .

[47]  Stefano Biazzo,et al.  Performance Measurement with the Balanced Scorecard , 2012 .

[48]  Apichat Sopadang,et al.  A Framework for Implementing Lean Manufacturing System in Small and Medium Enterprises , 2011 .

[49]  Andrew Thomas,et al.  Using the Quick Scan Audit Methodology (QSAM) as a precursor towards successful Lean Six Sigma implementation , 2011 .

[50]  Hilda C. Martínez León,et al.  Lean Product Development Research: Current State and Future Directions , 2011 .

[51]  Hendrik Van Landeghem,et al.  CHALLENGES AND SUCCESS FACTORS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF LEAN MANUFACTURING IN EUROPEAN SMES , 2011 .

[52]  Rose A.M.N.,et al.  LEAN MANUFACTURING BEST PRACTICES IN SMES , 2011 .

[53]  Amrik S. Sohal,et al.  Impact of lean strategy on operational performance: a study of Thai manufacturing companies , 2010 .

[54]  Thimo Zahn,et al.  Adaptive Configuration of a Lean Production System in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises , 2010, Prod. Eng..

[55]  S. R. Devadasan,et al.  Current state maps on the implementation of lean and Six-Sigma paradigms and an exclusive model for deploying Lean Six-Sigma in SMEs , 2010 .

[56]  S. G. Deshmukh,et al.  Lean manufacturing system for medium size manufacturing enterprises: an Indian case , 2010 .

[57]  Hendrik Van Landeghem,et al.  People driven productivity : Lean for small businesses , 2010 .

[58]  S. Koh,et al.  A casual analysis of the impact of information systems and supply chain management practices on operational performance : evidence from manufacturing SMEs in Turkey , 2009 .

[59]  Shad Dowlatshahi,et al.  The development of a conceptual framework for Just-In-Time implementation in SMEs , 2009 .

[60]  S. I. Salaheldin.  Critical success factors for TQM implementation and their impact on performance of SMEs , 2009 .

[61]  G. Anand,et al.  Selection of lean manufacturing systems using the analytic network process – a case study , 2009 .

[62]  Michael J. Lenox,et al.  LEAN AND GREEN? AN EMPIRICAL EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEAN PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE , 2001 .

[63]  Andrew Thomas,et al.  Applying lean six sigma in a small engineering company – a model for change , 2008 .

[64]  Maneesh Kumar,et al.  Comparing the quality management practices in UK SMEs , 2008, Ind. Manag. Data Syst..

[65]  Chandandeep Grewal,et al.  An initiative to implement lean manufacturing using value stream mapping in a small company , 2008, Int. J. Manuf. Technol. Manag..

[66]  G. Anand,et al.  Performance measurement system for lean manufacturing: a perspective from SMEs , 2008 .

[67]  R. Real,et al.  A study of supporting programs for small and medium enterprises: a first stage going to “Lean” , 2007, 2007 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management.

[68]  Patrizia Garengo,et al.  Organizational capability in SMEs: Performance measurement as a key system in supporting company development , 2007 .

[69]  Nilmini Wickramasinghe,et al.  Identifying the need for world class manufacturing and best practice for SMEs in the UK , 2007 .

[70]  Kit Fai Pun,et al.  Exploring soft versus hard factors for TQM implementation in small and medium‐sized enterprises , 2006 .

[71]  Ekrem Tatoglu,et al.  An analysis of the relationship between TQM implementation and organisational performance: evidence from Turkish SMEs , 2006 .

[72]  Linda Hendry,et al.  Six Sigma: literature review and key future research areas , 2006 .

[73]  Pius Achanga,et al.  Critical success factors for lean implementation within SMEs , 2006 .

[74]  Manoj Kumar Tiwari,et al.  Implementing the Lean Sigma framework in an Indian SME: a case study , 2006 .

[75]  Andrew Thomas,et al.  Developing an SME based six sigma strategy , 2006 .

[76]  Sanjay Bhasin,et al.  Lean viewed as a philosophy , 2006 .

[77]  Rajkumar Roy,et al.  LEAN MANUFACTURING FOR SMES: ENABLING RAPID RESPONSE TO DEMAND CHANGES , 2005 .

[78]  Salaheldin Ismail Salaheldin,et al.  JIT implementation in Egyptian manufacturing firms: some empirical evidence , 2005 .

[79]  P. Bruun,et al.  Lean production and the Internet , 2004 .

[80]  Choong Y. Lee.  Perception and Development of Total Quality Management in Small Manufacturers: An Exploratory Study in China , 2004 .

[81]  Peter T. Ward,et al.  Lean manufacturing: context, practice bundles, and performance , 2003 .

[82]  H. Arasli.  Gearing Total Quality into Small– and Medium–Sized Hotels in North Cyprus , 2002 .

[83]  Jeffrey S. Hornsby,et al.  Quality Practices for a Competitive Advantage in Smaller Firms , 2001 .

[84]  Elaine Aspinwall,et al.  Case studies on the implementation of TQM in the UK automotive SMEs , 2001 .

[85]  Andi Smart,et al.  Theory and practice in SME performance measurement systems , 2001 .

[86]  G. S. Dangayach,et al.  Manufacturing strategy: Literature review and some issues , 2001 .

[87]  M. L. Emiliani,et al.  Supporting small businesses in their transition to lean production , 2000 .

[88]  A. Gunasekaran,et al.  Improving operations performance in a small company: a case study , 2000 .

[89]  Elaine Aspinwall,et al.  A conceptual framework for TQM implementation for SMEs , 2000 .

[90]  Kul Bhushan C. Saxena,et al.  Managing IT for world-class manufacturing: the Indian scenario , 2000, Int. J. Inf. Manag..

[91]  John N. Pearson,et al.  Jit Manufacturing: a Survey of Implementations in Small and Large U.S. Manufacturers , 1999 .

[92]  Serge Lambert,et al.  Adaptation of JIT phylosophy and Kanban technique to a small-sized manufacturing firm; a project management approach , 1998 .

[93]  G. Azzone,et al.  Identifying effective PMSs for the deployment of “green” manufacturing strategies , 1998 .

[94]  John J. Lawrence,et al.  Understanding the use of just‐in‐time purchasing in a developing country , 1996 .

[95]  Abby Ghobadian,et al.  Total quality management in SMEs , 1996 .

[96]  Chwen Sheu,et al.  Implementing SPC in a small organization: a TQM approach , 1996 .

[97]  Tracy D. Rishel,et al.  A Study of Characteristic Differences between Small JIT and Non-JIT Manufacturers , 1994 .

[98]  K. Chan,et al.  Intelligent Corporate Strategy beyond World‐class Status , 1993 .

[99]  R. Anthony Inman,et al.  Small Business and JIT: A Managerial Overview , 1993 .

[100]  Damodar Y. Golhar,et al.  Customer and Supplier Linkages for Small JIT Manufacturing Firms , 1991 .

[101]  Gert P. Ten Cate.  Jit for the Small Company , 1988 .