Lean Indicators for Small Batch Size Manufacturers in High Cost Countries

Abstract

Lean manufacturing is commonly agreed as efficient and competitive performance towards which all manufacturing companies desire to developtheir operations. Literature largely supports this with numerous case studies on various industries and fields, from manufacturing to services andhealth business. However, among manufacturing companies of complex products, produced in small batch sizes in high cost countries, most ofthe companies have either not achieved lean performance or have only partially benefited from it. There is lack of sufficient descriptions andmeasures on how companies, other than mass producers, could achieve and sustain leanness holistically. To address this gap, this paper introducesa lean manufacturing reference framework situated in the small batch size manufacturing, which emphasises integrated product and productiondevelopment, and contingent factors to better align with the demands of manufacturers. The framework is constructed based on literature reviewand then validated with Sustainability and Key Performance Indicators Landscape.