Description

This theme addresses the human, organizational and sociotechnical foundations required to implement and sustain Lean Manufacturing beyond the mechanical application of individual tools. It integrates Kaizen, 5S, Gemba, visual management, employee suggestion systems, teamwork, structured problem solving, employee involvement, leadership, management commitment, organizational learning, training, knowledge management and continuous improvement culture. Particular emphasis is placed on distinguishing technical or “hard” Lean practices from social or “soft” Lean practices and examining their interaction rather than treating Lean implementation as a purely operational intervention. Contemporary research demonstrates that Kaizen, Gemba and 5 Whys can be examined as interconnected continuous-improvement mechanisms with implications extending to social sustainability and employee needs.