Abstract
Lean manufacturing has been the most deliberated concept ever since its introduction. Many
organization across the world implemented lean concept and witnessed dramatic improvements
in all contemporary performance parameters. Lean manufacturing has been a sort
of mirage for the Indian automotive industry. The present research investigated the key
lean barriers to lean implementation through literature survey, confirmatory factor analysis,
multiple regression, and analytic network process. The general factors to lean implementation
were inadequate lean planning, resource constraints, half-hearted commitment from
management, and behavioral issues. The most important factor in the context of lean implementation
in Indian automotive industry was inadequate lean planning found with the
help of confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis. Further analysis of
these extracted factors through analytic network process suggested the key lean barriers in
Indian automotive industry, starting from the most important were absence of proper lean
implementation methodology, lack of customer focus, absence of proper lean measurement
system, inadequate capital, improper selection of lean tools & practices, leadership issues,
resistance to change, and poorly defined roles & responsibilities. Though literature identifying
various lean barriers are available. The novelty of current research emerges from the
identification and subsequent prioritization of key lean barriers within Indian automotive
SMEs environment. The research assists in smooth transition from traditional to lean system
by identifying key barriers and developing customized framework of lean implementation for
Indian automotive SMEs.
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