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Success factors and barriers to implementing lean in the printing industry: A case study and theoretical framework

Zuliyanti Hanizan Ainul Azyan (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia)
Venkateswarlu Pulakanam (University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand)
Dirk Pons (University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand)

Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management

ISSN: 1741-038X

Article publication date: 2 May 2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Lean principles are applied in manufacturing and service industries extensively, but its successful application in the printing industry has been poor. The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors that impede the uptake of lean in the printing industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative case study research methods were used to explore success factors and barriers to implementing lean in printing by interviewing two managers and three employees at each of two printing firms that had implemented lean to different degrees.

Findings

A number of critical success factors and barriers to implementing lean are identified. Success factors include practitioners’ understanding of lean philosophy, principles and methods, management leadership and commitment, upfront training in lean and effective communication.

Originality/value

The work contributes to empirical research on implementing lean in the printing industry. This research identified critical success and failure factors in implementing lean in this industry. Management knowledge, commitment, and support emerged as key factors. A theoretical framework is provided that proposes relationships of causality for the successful implementation of lean in this industry.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Conflict of interests: the authors declare no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper. The research was conducted without commercial or financial benefit from a third party, other than the provision of postgraduate scholarship funding for the first author from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia. There was no third-party influence in the work: its approach, interpretation of data, writing, or submission decisions.

Contribution statement: all authors contributed to the development of the ideas. ZA conducted the interviews. VP and DP supervised the research work. Qualitative research was conducted by ZA. DP led the development of the framework model. All authors contributed to writing of the paper.

Citation

Ainul Azyan, Z.H., Pulakanam, V. and Pons, D. (2017), "Success factors and barriers to implementing lean in the printing industry: A case study and theoretical framework", Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Vol. 28 No. 4, pp. 458-484. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-05-2016-0067

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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