The Selected Problems of Lean Manufacturing Implementation in Mexican SMEs

This paper presents the results of investigation of selected problems concerning Lean Manufacturing Implementation at SMEs in México. The analysis is a result of survey conducted in a sample of 24 manufacturing enterprises and it has been supported by some Mexican governmental information sources as well as additional studies which have been conducted before. The paper presents also a preliminary proposal of a methodology of implementation of lean manufacturing and the model of lean manufacturing appropriate in Mexican industrial plants conditions. The findings of this research are the following: a)The most important problems related to Mexican manufacturing SMEs, b) The problems related to the implantation of lean manufacturing in Mexican SMEs The limitations presented in this research are the following: a) The Lean Manufacturing is the concept developed in Toyota and it seems difficult to implement it in Mexican SMEs because of different organizational and social culture of Mexican enterprises and labour. b) The concepts related to lean manufacturing have been frequently misunderstood in Mexican enterprises because of poor employees training and educational program. The future research will concentrate on the development of a methodology of implementation of Lean Manufacturing in Mexican industrial plants .This methodology is expected to be a key to the successful implementation of lean manufacturing in Mexican SMEs. This paper does not have any practical implications. Any practical observations can be develop after a practical validation of a proposed methodology in practical industrial conditions. The main value of the paper is the presentation of: -current practical problems related to the lean manufacturing concepts application in Mexican SMEs -a proposal of a lean manufacturing implementation methodology appropriate to Mexican industry. It should be mentioned that this kind of methodology does not exist in México yet. 240 Mariusz Bednarek, Luis Fernando Niño Luna