Adapting lean manufacturing principles to an agile production environment : a case study for lean layout design for a subassembly cell at Halton Marine Oy

Abstract

Lean manufacturing is a constantly evolving approach that focuses on reducing waste in production. Companies are implementing lean manufacturing at an increasing rate, but due to the extensive focus on minimizing resource use to increase productivity, companies that operate according to agile methods can find it difficult to fully implement lean principles in their operations. The goal of this research is to analyse the conflicts that emerge when agile environments attempt to integrate lean principles. A literature review was conducted to determine the fundamental characteristics of agile manufacturing that act as a baseline of what must be taken into consideration when implementing lean principles in an agile environment. The findings show that as long as the lean principles implemented do not conflict with the ability of a production line to handle a mix of products or to adapt the production volume according to demand fluctuations, implementing lean principles in an agile production environment can theoretically increase productivity.