Lean green practices in Automotive Components Manufacturing

Abstract

In response to the global surge in industrial competition, organizations have increasingly embraced lean green practices as an approach to identify and eliminate non-value-added waste in manufacturing processes, while ensuring sustainable practices. This research extends current literature on lean green practices in manufacturing by a) exploring current implementation of lean green practices in the automotive components manufacturing industry and b) examining the challenges encountered within its supply chain processes when implementing the practices. The evaluation utilizes the SCOR model, and a focus group of automotive components manufacturing professionals in the UK. The findings reveal that an average level of implementation of lean green practices, offering benefits such as enhanced productivity, cost reduction, and improved competitive advantage. Implementation challenges were found to be particularly faced in the sourcing and manufacturing (MAKE) processes of the supply chain, due largely to component outsourcing issues, and inefficiencies in the conversion of raw materials into finished products to meet supply chain demands.