Abstract
The use of Lean principles has long enabled the improvement of efficiency and competitiveness in manufacturing firms, but during the last decade, advanced digital and automated solutions have been ...
Highlights
Lean production principles have long been hailed as a solution for improving efficiency and competitiveness in manufacturing firms (Marley and Ward, 2013)
While the use of Lean principles has enabled the improvement of productivity, quality and customer service in many organisations, it has been argued that the use of IT has led to similar benefits (Riezebos et al, 2009), and during the last decade advanced digital and automated solutions have been more in the spotlight
The study is initiated by the discussion on how the current implementation of advanced types of technologies, envisioned by programs such as Industry 4.0, relates to the implementation of Lean production practices
Summary
Lean production principles have long been hailed as a solution for improving efficiency and competitiveness in manufacturing firms (Marley and Ward, 2013). Some say that at present, “a far-reaching technology push in industrial production can be observed” [Hirsch-Kreinsen, (2016), p.1]. This new era is described in terms of a fourth industrial revolution, known as ‘Industry 4.0’ in Germany. One definition of the fourth industrial revolution is “the introduction of internet technology in the manufacturing industry to render factories more intelligent; increase adaptability, resource efficiency, and ergonomics; and integrate customers more closely into the product definition stage as well as business partners into the value and logistic chains” [Stork, (2015), p.21]. The rapidly growing research interest in technologies and applications related to Industry 4.0 has been underlined in a recent literature review by Lu (2017), who identified five research categories, of which interoperability is assessed as critical
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