Abstract
The rapid evolution of advanced digital technologies has reshaped the manufacturing landscape, necessitating the strategic integration of Lean Manufacturing (LM) principles with Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and Industry 5.0 (I5.0) technology adoption. Despite the growing interest in this integration of LM in digital transformation, a significant gap exists in our understanding of how LM enablers facilitate the adoption of I4.0/5.0 technologies to enhance competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability. This study addresses this gap by empirically examining the relative roles of LM enablers in digital transformation.
Data collected from 114 manufacturing professionals through an online survey was analysed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) to rank 17 LM enablers derived from the literature on their relative importance for digital technology adoption. The outcome of the survey reveals that process optimisation and continuous improvement (POCI), data-driven decision-making, standardisation, quality management, visual management and leadership commitment are the most influential LM enablers, of successful digital integration. However, worker mindset, employee training and upskilling (WMETU), 5S methodology, culture of adaptability, Just-in-Time (JIT) and kanban are less influential although those are fundamental concepts in LM.
Findings guide manufacturing firms in capitalising on their investments in lean implementations enabling them to prioritise specific lean capabilities that drive I4.0/5.0 adoption. They can leverage these insights to optimise resource allocation, focusing investments on high-impact enablers to maximise technology implementation success. The research findings also contribute to academic discourse by bridging the gap between lean manufacturing and digital technology adoption literature. This analysis approach developed in this study can be further employed across diverse manufacturing contexts and geographical regions to refine these insights.