The proposal of the model of Lean Manufacturing for Mexican SMEs
Mariusz Bednarek, Luis Fernando Niño Luna
Last modified: 2007-09-08
Abstract
Abstract
The purpose of the paper, methodology and approach:
This paper presents the results of investigation of selected problems concerning Lean Manufacturing Implementation at SMEs in México. The analysis is a result of survey conducted in a sample of 15 manufacturing enterprises and it has been supported by some Mexican governmental information sources as well as additional studies which have been conducted before. The paper presents the importance of SMEs in Mexican economy and the barriers and limitations, especially the internal ones, which are faced by the Mexican SMEs. The authors outline the original concept of Lean Manufacturing as one of the possible ways to improve efficiency in the Mexican SMEs. The characteristics of the model and the most important conditions of its implementation are presented in the final part of the paper.
The findings of this research are the following:
a) The most important problems related to Mexican manufacturing SMEs
b) The model of lean manufacturing appropriated to Mexican SMEs
The limitations presented in this research are the following:
a) The Lean Manufacturing is the concept developed in Toyota and it seems difficult to implement it in Mexican SMEs because of different organizational and social culture of Mexican enterprises and labor.
b) The concepts related to lean manufacturing have been frequently misunderstood in Mexican enterprises because of poor employees training and educational program.
The future research will concentrate on the development of a methodology of implementation of Lean Manufacturing in Mexican industrial plants .This methodology is expected to be a key to the successful implementation of lean manufacturing model in Mexican SMEs .This paper does not have any practical implications. Any practical observations can be developing after a practical validation of a proposed model in practical industrial conditions.
The main value of the paper is the presentation of:
-current practical problems related to the lean manufacturing concepts application in Mexican SMEs
-a proposal of a lean manufacturing model appropriate to Mexican industry .It should be mentioned that this kind of original model does not exist in México yet.
Keywords:
Lean, SMEs, manufacturing process, continuous improvement
The purpose of the paper, methodology and approach:
This paper presents the results of investigation of selected problems concerning Lean Manufacturing Implementation at SMEs in México. The analysis is a result of survey conducted in a sample of 15 manufacturing enterprises and it has been supported by some Mexican governmental information sources as well as additional studies which have been conducted before. The paper presents the importance of SMEs in Mexican economy and the barriers and limitations, especially the internal ones, which are faced by the Mexican SMEs. The authors outline the original concept of Lean Manufacturing as one of the possible ways to improve efficiency in the Mexican SMEs. The characteristics of the model and the most important conditions of its implementation are presented in the final part of the paper.
The findings of this research are the following:
a) The most important problems related to Mexican manufacturing SMEs
b) The model of lean manufacturing appropriated to Mexican SMEs
The limitations presented in this research are the following:
a) The Lean Manufacturing is the concept developed in Toyota and it seems difficult to implement it in Mexican SMEs because of different organizational and social culture of Mexican enterprises and labor.
b) The concepts related to lean manufacturing have been frequently misunderstood in Mexican enterprises because of poor employees training and educational program.
The future research will concentrate on the development of a methodology of implementation of Lean Manufacturing in Mexican industrial plants .This methodology is expected to be a key to the successful implementation of lean manufacturing model in Mexican SMEs .This paper does not have any practical implications. Any practical observations can be developing after a practical validation of a proposed model in practical industrial conditions.
The main value of the paper is the presentation of:
-current practical problems related to the lean manufacturing concepts application in Mexican SMEs
-a proposal of a lean manufacturing model appropriate to Mexican industry .It should be mentioned that this kind of original model does not exist in México yet.
Keywords:
Lean, SMEs, manufacturing process, continuous improvement