Benefits of adopting lean production on green performance of SMEs: a case study

Abstract

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are widely recommended to strive, not only for their performance in operational side, but they need to integrate the environmental dimension. To do that, the literature widely indicates a positive impact of lean practices on green performance. However, very few studies have been carried out in SMEs context. In this view, this paper aims at providing through a practical case study of lean implementation in a real-life small manufacturing company, the information to confirm this synergy between lean and green performance. To achieve this aim, a proposed framework of lean and green integration has been implemented in a SME producing different types of pumps. The results achieved shows that there is a strong correlation between operational metrics improvement and green metrics improvement. Moreover, the benefits of lean practices such as 5S, Kanban, SMED, AM, cellular manufacturing and quality control on green performance are widely demonstrated. Future work could study other processes and explore other case-specific supporting tools and techniques.

Keywords:

• Lean production
• green performance
• lean and green
• small- and medium-sized enterprises

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amine Belhadi

Amine Belhadi is a researcher in Industrial Engineering at Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco). Amine is an Industrial Engineer. He works currently as production and process engineer in chemical sector. After having his PhD in Industrial Engineering in 2018, he became member in the Industrial Engineering Research Team at Higher School of Technology (Safi), Cadi Ayyad University subsidiary. His expertise area is the Industrial Engineering particularly Lean Manufacturing. He has participated in lean programs implementation in many companies. His publications have appeared in international peer-reviewed journals.

Fatima Ezahra Touriki

Fatima Ezahra Touriki is an Associate Professor at National School of the applied Sciences of Safi (Morocco). Fatima Ezahra started her research career at the Paul Cézanne University - Faculty of Science and Technology of Marseille (France), by obtaining her PhD in "Intelligence and competitive intelligence" in 2005. In 2016, Fatima Ezahra became Head of the Industrial Engineering Department. Her scientific activity focuses on Lean Management, Quality Management, food supply chains and sustainability. She has published several articles in leading academic peer-reviewed journals.

Said El Fezazi

Said El Fezazi is a professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Maintenance at the University of Cadi Ayyad University (Morocco). He is the leader of the Research Team in Industrial Engineering at Higher School of Technology of Safi. His research interests include supply chain management, Lean management, Six Sigma, production and operation management.