Lean manufacturing applied in developing countries: a case study in metal industry

Abror Hoshimov, Anna Corinna Cagliano, Jamshid Inoyatkhodjaev and Antonio Carlin

International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering, 2025, vol. 51, issue 1, 125-147

Abstract: This paper proposes a structured approach that integrates key lean manufacturing tools to improve the operational performance of companies in developing countries, particularly in Central Asia. A case study approach is applied to a manufacturing company in Uzbekistan. Four steps are carried out: selection of a case company; formation of a working team and definition of the current process mapping; selection of relevant key performance indicators and lean tools; implementing lean tools and assessing improvements. The total daily production rate of the case company increased by about 28% after lean application. Developing countries need special efforts to overcome the barriers related to the cultural background of companies and the mentality of their employees, in order to support the diffusion of lean manufacturing. This case study can stimulate academics to focus on further research on the application of lean tools in developing countries and the key contextual factors for its successful implementation.

Keywords: lean manufacturing; value stream mapping; VSM; 5S; developing countries; case study; Uzbekistan. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=148385 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

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:ids:ijisen:v:51:y:2025:i:1:p:125-147

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in International Journal of Industrial and Systems Engineering from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sarah Parker ().