Lean, take two! Reflections from the second attempt at lean implementation

Given recent increases in global competition, scarce resources, and fluctuating economies, it is not surprising that lean production has become critical to the long-term survival of today’s manufacturing organizations. Lean is a management philosophy focused on identifying and eliminating waste throughout a product’s entire value stream, extending not onlywithin theorganization but also along the company’s supply chain network. Lean is achieved through a set of mutually reinforcing practices, including just-in-time (JIT), total quality management (TQM), total productive maintenance (TPM), continuous improvement, design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA), supplier management, and effective human resource management (de Treville & Antonakis, 2006; Narasimhan, Swink, & Kim, 2006; Shah & Ward, 2003, 2007). Business Horizons (2009) 52, 79—88