Factors influencing the success of adopting lean manufacturing: an analysis of industry in three emerging countries

Abstract

Organizational culture has been said to be an important factor for the success of lean production systems. As companies are influenced by the culture of the countries in which they are located, comparative advantages might result from location, whenever the national culture has a better fit with the lean philosophy. This paper presents the results of a survey conducted with the industrial managers of 248 companies in Argentina, Brazil and Romania. The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of cultural patterns in the success of the implantation of lean manufacturing systems. Among other findings, it appears that many of the cultural attributes that might facilitate the introduction of lean systems in those emerging countries are not in place.