Lean Implementation in Small and Medium‐Sized Enterprises in Less Developed Countries: Some Empirical Evidences From North Africa^*

* The present paper explores status of lean adoption in the North African example of SMEs in less developed countries. Owing to the unique characteristics of SMEs in less developed countries, this paper provides several unique contributions to the extent theory and practice in Operations Management (OM) (1) this is the first study to investigate the status of lean implementation in North Africa, (2) the present work highlights via the North African example the immense need for lean within SMEs as a key factor of the economic development of less developed countries, (3) this study uses data collected directly from North African SMEs through a survey, which enables to OM community to discover the issues related to lean implementation in this kind of companies which have not received much attention before, (4) this work enhance also the knowledge about lean implementation in less developed countries in general, and in North Africa in particular, and (5) this research is a real quantum leap toward helping the OM community to understand the current situation of lean in the North African context in order to redirect strategies to implement this approach in SMEs in less developed countries.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide an exploration and analysis of lean implementation in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in less developed countries. Therefore, exploratory empirical evidences were collected from a survey study among a sample of 84 SMEs in North Africa. Moreover, statistical tests were conducted to assess the overall picture of lean among SMEs in this region. Although SMEs have expressed their immense need for lean, the level of its implementation is found to be very low. The findings could encourage further extensive studies to develop strategies to promote the use of lean in these countries.

* The present paper explores status of lean adoption in the North African example of SMEs in less developed countries. Owing to the unique characteristics of SMEs in less developed countries, this paper provides several unique contributions to the extent theory and practice in Operations Management (OM) (1) this is the first study to investigate the status of lean implementation in North Africa, (2) the present work highlights via the North African example the immense need for lean within SMEs as a key factor of the economic development of less developed countries, (3) this study uses data collected directly from North African SMEs through a survey, which enables to OM community to discover the issues related to lean implementation in this kind of companies which have not received much attention before, (4) this work enhance also the knowledge about lean implementation in less developed countries in general, and in North Africa in particular, and (5) this research is a real quantum leap toward helping the OM community to understand the current situation of lean in the North African context in order to redirect strategies to implement this approach in SMEs in less developed countries.

* The present paper explores status of lean adoption in the North African example of SMEs in less developed countries. Owing to the unique characteristics of SMEs in less developed countries, this paper provides several unique contributions to the extent theory and practice in Operations Management (OM) (1) this is the first study to investigate the status of lean implementation in North Africa, (2) the present work highlights via the North African example the immense need for lean within SMEs as a key factor of the economic development of less developed countries, (3) this study uses data collected directly from North African SMEs through a survey, which enables to OM community to discover the issues related to lean implementation in this kind of companies which have not received much attention before, (4) this work enhance also the knowledge about lean implementation in less developed countries in general, and in North Africa in particular, and (5) this research is a real quantum leap toward helping the OM community to understand the current situation of lean in the North African context in order to redirect strategies to implement this approach in SMEs in less developed countries.

Notes

* The present paper explores status of lean adoption in the North African example of SMEs in less developed countries. Owing to the unique characteristics of SMEs in less developed countries, this paper provides several unique contributions to the extent theory and practice in Operations Management (OM) (1) this is the first study to investigate the status of lean implementation in North Africa, (2) the present work highlights via the North African example the immense need for lean within SMEs as a key factor of the economic development of less developed countries, (3) this study uses data collected directly from North African SMEs through a survey, which enables to OM community to discover the issues related to lean implementation in this kind of companies which have not received much attention before, (4) this work enhance also the knowledge about lean implementation in less developed countries in general, and in North Africa in particular, and (5) this research is a real quantum leap toward helping the OM community to understand the current situation of lean in the North African context in order to redirect strategies to implement this approach in SMEs in less developed countries.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Amine Belhadi

Amine Belhadi is a Lecturer in the Industrial Engineering Research Team at the Cadi Ayyad University.

Fatima Ezahra Touriki

Fatima Ezahra Touriki is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the Cadi Ayyad University.

Said El fezazi

Said El Fezazi is Head of the Industrial Engineering Research Team at the Cadi Ayyad University.