Success factors for implementing lean production. Case study of Swedish lean award winners

Abstract

The aim of this master thesis is to identify factors that are important for the success of Lean and for its sustainability in the long term. So, after a theoretical and an empirical study, the aim is to find out which factors are the main ones, and among them which are the most important ones to which the organizations should pay more attention. In addition, some tips and advices related to the mentioned factors will be given to every company that might be interested in implementing Lean. The scope of this project work includes five companies in Sweden that have been awarded in the last few years with the Swedish Lean Award. The mentioned award is yearly given to an organization in Sweden that has most successfully developed its business with the support of the Lean philosophy. As data collection methods, interviews and a survey are used. In addition, a literature review was carried out to identify the success factors from previous studies.