Lean Manufacturing and Work Study: Analysis and Integration in an Outbound Logistics Case Study

Abstract

Lean manufacturing and work study are both popular and have been widely applied to achieve quality and productivity improvement in several industrial sectors (automotive, health care, and etc.) with high success. Previous studies found that some researchers apply lean manufacturing techniques only, whereas others apply only work study. But not all, some studies have used both techniques for productivity improvement. Therefore, a number of questions remain concerning the gap between the applications of these two techniques. The aim of this research is to fill the gap between these two techniques by reviewing the relationships, differences, and similarities between these two techniques; the results of the two techniques' applications to real case, studies and outbound logistics activities will also be reviewed. A literature review has been conducted to gain an overview of both techniques. Moreover, the case study have shown that both techniques demonstrate enhanced productivity performance. The case study results indicate the relationships, differences, and similarities between the techniques and the benefits of each. In fact, lean manufacturing techniques provide a good overview of processes, whereas the work study techniques focused on critical areas. The effects of applying these techniques are contrasted. Finally, time spent and cost were reduced at the outbound logistics stations.