Milutinovic, Bojana
(2008)
Lean Implementation: Focus on Serbian Market.
[Dissertation (University of Nottingham only)]
(Unpublished)
Abstract
On the beginning of the 20th century, basics for LEAN (lean manufacturing or lean production) concepts were developed in Toyota (TPS Toyota Production Systems), with the goal to reduce wastes. At the beginning there were seven wastes, identified by TPS that were in the focus. Striving for elimination of these wastes was the new road for higher quality and productivity while lowering the costs and production times.
By that time, LEAN as management philosophy, developed significantly, through defining and improving powerful and usually simple tools that are driving the company to waste less production.
On the global market the number of lean enterprises is growing from day to day, triggered by high market competitiveness and need for continuous improvement and change. On the other side, there are some countries that are not so familiar with LEAN concept, and hence, there is vague existence of LEAN, and that is mainly in foreign companies. One of these countries is Serbia, characterized also with presence of bureaucracy and inefficient working habits. Political scene and overall situation in Serbia is unstable, and therefore not attractive or suitable for widespread investments in knowledge or process improvement. Usually there are three types of enterprises on Serbian market: firstly once that are working well (and do not see the need for improving), secondly there are those that do assure existence on market, but in same time see the need for improvement, and thirdly those that are not working well, and do not see the way out, hence, just waiting to be bought or closed.
Further on, there are a number of approaches for Lean implementation done by many authors. Every approach is based on different assumptions. Serbia, has to be observed as one specific market, and therefore the aim was to find the best way of how to implement lean.
LEAN concept can be very beneficial for enterprises existing in Serbia, not just for improving productivity and lowering the costs, but also for enabling these companies to compete on global level. Positive consequences of this are numerous, even for the state as well.
Hence, governmental awareness and support in LEAN domain, than enterprises awareness of LEAN and finally existence of LEAN as well known and accepted concept are needs that have to be fulfilled sequentially.
Actions (Archive Staff Only)
 |
Edit View |
Tools
Tools
![[img]](/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png)