Towards the assessment of lean implementation in small and medium enterprises

The implementation level of various lean manufacturing (LM) practices and measures could vary not only between companies, but also within a company over time. LM implementation elements are evident across different sectors, but the pace of change is dramatically different and outcomes vary company by company. While the LM practices have been defined during last decades, outcomes of their implementation have not been assessed in sufficient details respecting SME. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to propose a contingent assessment tool able to identify prior practices and relevant performances in line with production system characteristics and firm’s strategic priorities.