Sustainability in lean manufacturing: A systematic literature review

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore and evaluate earlier work done on sustainable lean manufacturing (SLM). Some business structures are deliberated and discovered in the previous literature. Sustainable lean manufacturing includes varied integration and correlation of variables in the manufacturing industries. This paper explores the combination of lean and sustainable manufacturing and their implementation effects in the manufacturing industries. Researchers and experts explained the lean and sustainable manufacturing relationship in form of socio-economic and environmental aspects. In this study, major gaps explored in a sustainable lean environment in automobile manufacturing industries. In continuation of gaps, 97 key research papers were reviewed extensively to explore the research gap of SLM. Role of employee involvement in SLM implementation need to be explored in Indian automobile industries. Learning workshop on lean culture is found as important key for SLM implementation. Descriptive analysis of sustainable lean manufacturing explored and further scope of improvement suggested.