Abstract
This paper examined the effects of four core and internal lean practices on flexibility performance in Jordanian manufacturing companies. Lean practices included setup time reduction, continuous improvement, synchronization of operations, and pull system. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 157 manufacturing companies from different industry types. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that lean production posively and significantly affected flexibility performance. All lean practices proved to be positively and significantly related to flexibility performance. The most contributing lean practice was synchronization of operations followed by pull system and continuous improvement. The moderating effect of environmental dynamism was also examined. The results of the interaction terms showed that environmental dynamism positively and significantly moderated the relationship between synchronization of operations and flexibility performance. The findings of this study highlighted the important role of synchronization of operations, a widely neglected lean practice in the literature, in improving flexibility performance. Additionally, we contributed to the controversial issue in the literature concerning the impact of lean production on performance in a dynamic environment.
Highlights
The last three decades witnessed a series of new operational approaches that attemted to improve quality, reduce cost, enhance productivity, and improve competitive position of manfufacturing companies
As we concentrate in this study on flexibility performance, we propose that environmental dynamism will further strengthen the effect of lean practices on flexibility performance
This study investigated the impact of lean production on flexibility performance in Jordanian manufctuing companies
Summary
The last three decades witnessed a series of new operational approaches that attemted to improve quality, reduce cost, enhance productivity, and improve competitive position of manfufacturing companies Such approaches included, but not limited to, total quality management, just in time production, total productive maintenance, and lean production. Mackelprang and Nair (2010) asserted that such interactions may potentially contribute to advance theory with regard to lean system and may explain the contrasting findings reported in the literature They argued that about 50 percent of the relations between lean practices and performance are subject to interaction effects. The research questions are: 1) What are the effects of lean practices on flexibility performance in Jordanian manufacturing companies?. 2) What is the moderating effect of environmental dynamism on the relationship between lean practices and flexibility performance in Jordanian manufacturing companies?. The results are expected to contribute to the literature from both theoretical and practical perspectives
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