Rolling out lean production systems: a knowledge based perspective
Purpose Adopting a knowledge based perspective, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the roll out process of lean production systems and explores the dimensions that might enhance or hinder its performance. It develops a framework to understand and design lean roll out processes, identifying the research dimensions/design variables to classify and interpret such processes. Design/methodology/approach This exploratory multiple case study analyses seven lean roll out processes in multinational companies' plants. An original data set, developed on the basis of a purposely design research protocol, was built through two rounds of plant visits and structured interviews. The cross case analysis compares and contrasts the lean roll out processes according to the research dimensions constituting the framework. Findings The effectiveness and the efficiency of the lean roll out processes: first, negatively co vary with the degree of lean knowledge codification; second, positively co vary with the degre.