| Abstract [eng] |
Lean philosophy is one of the wide-ranging ways to promote efficiency while emphasizing a high level of awareness about the customer. Despite the attempts by multiple companies worldwide to implement partial or whole spectrum of the Lean concept for better performance, the failure rate in the Lean transformation among organizations reaches as high as 90%. The paper aims to identify the main challenges and barriers to Lean implementation in Lithuania and to provide proposals on how to facilitate it. To achieve this aim, the authors of the paper present a theoretical conceptual model that illustrates the main benefits, barriers, and proposals for successful Lean implementation. Based on the theoretical analysis, qualitative research in the form of semi-structured interviews based on open-ended questions was used. The results of empirical research revealed that most companies implement the Lean concept with the aim to reduce different types of waste, simplify the processes and make them more efficient, increase production capacity, and ensure more effective customer service. The most successful Lean tools addressing the existing problems are 5S (6S), process mapping, standardization, visual management, Kaizen, and Kanban. The main barriers which delay Lean transformations can be grouped into people-related, organizational, and process-related. Employee training, motivation, Lean leadership, and creation of an enabling culture could be the main recommendations for the facilitation of challenges and barriers to Lean implementation. |
