Real-Time Data Utilization Barriers to Improving Production Performance: An In-depth Case Study Linking Lean Management and Industry 4.0 from a Learning Organization Perspective

Henrik Saabye, Thomas Borup Kristensen and Brian Vejrum Wæhrens
Additional contact information
Henrik Saabye: Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Thomas Borup Kristensen: Aalborg University Business School, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Brian Vejrum Wæhrens: Department of Materials and Production, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-21

Abstract: This study presents empirical evidence for the ongoing discussion about the link between Lean Management (LM) and industry 4.0 (I4.0) by exploring a non-technical perspective on how manufacturers can capitalize on their technological investments. The paper, therefore, studies the link between LM and I4.0 from a learning organization (LO) perspective by examining the implementation, commissioning, and utilization of a real-time operational data gathering system at a Danish building material manufacturer. This six months in-depth case study finds that for the manufacturer to utilize real-time operational data from a LO perspective, several barriers must be addressed: problem solving that is not initiated by operators, operators who do not have second-order problem-solving abilities, operators who perceive the new real-time data technology as coercive, poor learning environments and processes, and a lack of leadership that supports learning. This study can help practitioners understand the importance of balance, the prevalent technocentric focus when implementing new I4.0 technologies with a LO focus. Furthermore, the study provides practitioners with a list of specific barriers from a LO perspective to be mindful of when aiming to combine LM and I4.0 to improve production performance.

Keywords: lean management; Industry 4.0; learning organization; enabling formalization; real-time data; OEE (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/21/8757/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/21/8757/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8757-:d:432742

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().