The relationship between internal lean practices and sustainable performance: exploring the mediating role of social performance

Abstract

This study clarifies the relationship between internal lean practices (ILP) and sustainable performance using the triple bottom line framework (i.e. social, environmental and operational). A conceptual model grounded in the natural resource-based view and resource orchestration theory is empirically tested using data collected from manufacturing companies in Chile. The survey data are analysed using structural equation modelling. The results reveal that ILP is significantly and positively associated with environmental performance and social performance. Further, social performance was found to fully mediate the relationship between ILP and operational performance, and partially mediate the effect of ILP on environmental performance.

Keywords:

• Internal lean practices
• sustainability performance
• triple bottom line
• social performance
• Chile

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico, Grant/Award Number: 11140599.

Notes on contributors

Roberto Chavez

Roberto Chavez is presently a senior lecturer of Operations and Supply Chain Management at Swinburne University of Technology. His interests include lean manufacturing and sustainable supply chain management. His research has been published in journals such as International Journal of Operations and Production Management, International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, Supply Chain Management: An international Journal, Business Strategy and the Environment, British Journal of Management and Decision Support Systems.

Wantao Yu

Wantao Yu is a professor of Supply Chain Management at the University of Roehampton. His research interests include supply chain integration, integrated green supply chain management, and retail operations and logistics. His work has been published in journals such as International Journal of Operations & Production Management, British Journal of Management, International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Production Research, Industrial Marketing Management, Production Planning & Control, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, and Decision Support Systems.

Muhammad Shakeel Sadiq Jajja

Shakeel Sadiq Jajja is Associate Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management at Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan. His research interests include technology, innovation and sustainability issues in operations and supply chain management. His work has been published in journals such as International Journal of Operations & Production Management, International Journal of Production Economics, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Business Strategy and the Environment, International Journal of Logistics Management, and Journal of Cleaner Production.

Yongtao Song

Yongtao Song is presently an associate professor at the Business School of Henan University, China. His research interests include sustainable supply chain management, quality management, and production management. He has published some journal papers in Journal of Knowledge Management, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Sustainability, Operations Management Research, Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, and Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing.

Walid Nakara

Walid A. Nakara is an Associate Professor and the Head of the Department “Management - Strategy – Entrepreneurship” at Montpellier Business School. His research interests include entrepreneurial personality, innovation strategy, and new forms on management. His work has been published in journals such as Small Business Economics, European Management Review, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. He is chairholder of the ‘Social Entrepreneurship & Inclusion’ chair and Deputy Director of the Yunus-MBS Centre for Social Business.