Impact of Lean Supply Chain Management on Operational Performance: A Study of Small Manufacturing Companies

Lean is a systematic approach to identify and eliminate non-value-added activities or waste through continuous improvement process. While traditional lean manufacturing focuses on the activities within a single organization, lean supply chain consists of the same processes, but it views these processes over multiple organizations. This research addresses an important yet under-studied area - lean supply chain management in small organizations, especially small manufacturing firms. The study examines driving factors of lean supply chain management, focus of lean supply chain practices, and major supply chain and information technology solutions applied in these companies. Through a research survey, the study has provided important insights into the current status of lean supply chain practices and related implementation issues in small businesses.