Lean Manufacturing Tools as a Driver of the Company’s Digital Transformation

Abstract

The article substantiates the impact of applying lean manufacturing tools on the digital company’s transformation. The study distinguishes the main lean manufacturing tools that contribute to the optimisation of production processes, reduce losses and improve staff efficiency. Special attention is paid to the synergy of lean methods and digital technologies, which allows companies to adapt to changing market conditions and remain competitive by accelerating and replicating production processes in their digital transformation. The case study of implementing lean manufacturing tools at the Russian food industry enterprises, participants in the national project “Labour Productivity,” demonstrates the feasibility of implementing the key 5 lean manufacturing principles (sorting, organising, standardising, keeping clean and improving), along with the Manufacturing Execution System (MES). The author concludes that companies need to combine lean manufacturing and digital technologies to improve efficiency. Given the fact that lean manufacturing and information technology can conflict, providing their integration will increase the success of the digital company’s transformation. A lean manufacturing approach simplifies production processes, improves the efficiency of digitalisation and increases the likelihood of successful adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies.