Work organisation practices for lean production

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain and to expose work organisation practices common to the factories that successfully follow lean production (LP) principles.

Design/methodology/approach

Analysis of the literature and interviews with experts.

Findings

An analysis of the literature reveals clear connections between work organisation practices and LP. However, general reports on LP barely deal with work organisation. A set of work organisation objectives for LP was established for the authors and interviewed experts and analysed by reviewing the literature. Similarities are found between the different sources in terms of defining a set of policies and practices covering all the aspects of work organisation. It is shown that there are indeed work organisation practices characteristic of LP.

Originality/value

This paper is believed to be the first complete analysis of work organisation practices for LP.

Citation

Olivella, J., Cuatrecasas, L. and Gavilan, N. (2008), "Work organisation practices for lean production", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 19 No. 7, pp. 798-811. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410380810898750