Rethinking lean supplier development as a learning system

Abstract

Purpose

This paper investigates developing a learning-to-learn capability as a critical success factor for sustainable lean transformation.

Design/methodology/approach

This research design is guided by our research question: how can suppliers learn to learn as part of a buyer-led collaborative lean transformation? The authors adopt action learning research to generate actionable knowledge from a lean supplier development initiative over a three-year period.

Findings

Drawing on emergent insights from the initiative, the authors find that developing a learning-to-learn capability is a core and critical success factor for lean transformation. The authors also find that network action learning has a significant enabling role in buyer-led collaborative lean transformations.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to lean theory and practice by making the distinction between learning about and implementing lean best practices and adopting a learning-to-learn perspective to build organisational capabilities, consistent with lean thinking and practice. Further, the authors contribute to methodology, adopting action learning research to explore learning-to-learn as a critical success factor for sustainable lean transformation.

Citation

Powell, D.J. and Coughlan, P. (2020), "Rethinking lean supplier development as a learning system", International Journal of Operations & Production Management, Vol. 40 No. 7/8, pp. 921-943. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-06-2019-0486