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Systemic leanness: An index for facilitating continuous improvement of lean implementation

Gopalakrishnan Narayanamurthy (Quantitative Methods and Operations Management (QM and OM) Area, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, Kerala, India)
Anand Gurumurthy (Quantitative Methods and Operations Management (QM and OM) Area, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, Kerala, India)

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management

ISSN: 1741-038X

Article publication date: 3 October 2016

4167

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a leanness assessment methodology that takes into account the interaction between lean elements for computing the systemic leanness and for assisting continuous improvement of lean implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

Key elements determining the leanness level were identified by reviewing the relevant literature and were structured as a framework. Graph-theoretic approach (GTA) was used as the assessment methodology for its ability to evaluate the interaction between the elements in the developed framework.

Findings

Interactions between the lean elements were configured. Application of the proposed GTA for assessing systemic leanness was demonstrated. Scenario analysis was performed and a scale was developed to assist firms in comparing their systemic leanness index.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is unique in developing an assessment approach for measuring the systemic leanness. In addition, this study explains how the implementation of lean thinking (LT) in a value stream can be continuously improved by proposing a systemic leanness index that can be benchmarked. The proposed approach to measure systemic leanness can be tested across different value streams in future for extending its generalizability.

Practical implications

Proposed framework and leanness assessment approach presents an innovative tool for practitioners to capture the systemic aspect of LT. Proposed assessment approach supports practitioners in achieving continuous improvement in lean implementation by revealing the lean elements that need to be focused in future.

Originality/value

Study introduces a new perspective for LT by studying the importance of interactions between the lean elements and by incorporating them to assess the systemic leanness.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr M. Sowmiya and Vandhana Narayanan for helping in proofreading and improving the readability of the manuscript. An initial version of this paper entitled “A novel methodology for assessing leanness using graph-theoretic approach” was presented in the 21st EurOMA Conference held on June 20-25, 2014 hosted by University of Palermo, in Italy. The authors thank the session chairs of the conference for constructive feedback. Special thanks to the Doctoral Advisory Committee members of one of the authors for their critical comments.

Citation

Narayanamurthy, G. and Gurumurthy, A. (2016), "Systemic leanness: An index for facilitating continuous improvement of lean implementation", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 27 No. 8, pp. 1014-1053. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-04-2016-0047

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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