Knowledge transfer in Lean management: Experience from Malaysian SME
Abstract
This study explores how SME develops knowledge transfer in Lean management, particularly the lean tacit knowledge. Lean tacit knowledge is very significant in ensuring the success of lean management implementation, yet the SMEs often found difficulties due to limited capital and resources. A single case study of Malaysian SME in automotive industry was selected for this purpose. Results show that lean training, problem solving using case study, factory visit, sharing of lean database and online learning are the common approaches that used by the studied company in developing the lean tacit knowledge. Moreover, the accomplishment of this knowledge transfer in lean management necessitate strong commitment from the employees and the top management support. This study incorporates some practical implications to the organizations that aims to implement the lean management effectively.
References
Abdul Rahman, N. A, Sharif, S. M. & Mohamed Esa, M. (2013). Lean Manufacturing Case Study with Kanban System Implementation. Procedia Economics and Finance, 7, 174 – 180 2212-5671 doi:10.1016/S2212-5671(13)00232-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(13)00232-3
Anand, G., Ward, P.T. &Tatikonda, M.V. (2010). Role of explicit and tacit knowledge in Six Sigma projects: An empirical examination of differential project success. Journal of Operations Management, 28, 303–315. doi:10.1016/j.jom.2009.10.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2009.10.003
Angelis, J. J., & Fernandes, B. (2007). Lean practices for product and process improvement: involvement and knowledge capture Advances in Production Management Systems (pp. 347-354): Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-74157-4_41
Arnheiter, E. D., & Maleyeff, J. (2005). The integration of lean management and Six Sigma. The TQM magazine, 17(1), 5-18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09544780510573020
Asnan, R., Nordin, N. & Othman, S.N. (2015). Managing change in service sector implementation. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 211, 313-319. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.11.040
Charron, R., Harrington, H. J., Voehl, F., & Wiggin, H. (2014). The Lean Management Systems Handbook (Vol. 4): CRC Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/b17201
Dombrowski, U., Crespo, I. & Zahn, T. (2010). Adaptive configuration of a lean production system insmall and medium-sized enterprises. Production Engineering, 4(4),341-348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-010-0250-5
Emiliani, M. (2006). Origins of lean management in America: The role of Connecticut businesses. Journal of management History, 12(2), 167-184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/13552520610654069
Gabriel, E. (1997). The lean approach to project management. International Journal of Project Management, 15(4), 205-209. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0263-7863(96)00066-X
Herron, C., & Hicks, C. (2007). The transfer of selected lean manufacturing techniques from Japanese automotive manufacturing into general manufacturing (UK) through change agents. Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, 24(4), 524-531. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcim.2007.07.014
Kumar, R., & Kumar, V. (2014). Barriers in implementation of lean manufacturing system in Indian industry: A survey. International Journal of Latest Trends in Engineering and Technology, 4(2), 243-251.
Liker, J. K. (2004). The Toyota Way. New York: Mc Graw-Hill.
Marhani, M.A. ,Jaapar, A. & Bari, N. Azmi Ahmad. (2012). Lean Construction: Towards enhancing sustainable construction in Malaysia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 68, 87 – 98. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.12.209
Marie, J.-L., Bronet, V. & Pillet, M. (2005). A typology of ‘best practices’ for a benchmarking process. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 12(1), 45-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/14635770510582907
Mayr,A., Weighelt, M., Kuhl, A., Grimm, S., Erll, A., Potzel, M. & Franke, J. (2018). Lean 4.0-A conceptual conjunction of lean management & Industry 4.0. Procedia CIRP, 72, 622-628. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2018.03.292
Moriarty, J.P. & Smallman, C. (2009). En route to a theory of benchmarking. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 16 (4), 484-503. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/14635770910972423
Mostafa, S., Dumrak, J. & Hassan, S. (2013) A framework for lean manufacturing implementation. Production & Manufacturing Research, 1(1), 44-64, DOI: 10.1080/21693277.2013.862159 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21693277.2013.862159
Mrugalska, B. & Wyrwicka, M. K. (2017). Towards Lean Production in Industry 4.0. Procedia Engineering, 182, 466–473. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2017.03.135
Muniz, J., Dias Batista Jr, E., & Loureiro, G. (2010). Knowledge-based integrated production management model. Journal of knowledge management, 14(6), 858-871. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/13673271011084907
Nahapiet, J. & Ghoshal, S. (1998). Social capital, intellectual capital, and the organizational advantage. Academy of Management Review, 23(2), 242–266. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1998.533225
Nordin, N., Deros, B. M., & Wahab, D. A. (2010). A survey on lean manufacturing implementation in Malaysian automotive industry. International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, 1(4), 374-380.
Papadopoulu, T.C. &Ozbayrak, M. (2005). Leanness: Experiences from the journey to date. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 16(7), 784-806. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/17410380510626196
Pavnaskar, S., Gershenson, J., & Jambekar, A. (2003). Classification scheme for lean manufacturing tools. International Journal of Production Research, 41(13), 3075-3090. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0020754021000049817
Recht, R., & Wilderom, C. (1998). Kaizen and culture: on the transferability of Japanese suggestion systems. international business review, 7(1), 7-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0969-5931(97)00048-6
Rose, A. N. M., Deros, B. M., & Rahman, M. N. A. (2013). Lean Manufacturing Practices Implementation in Malaysian's SME Automotive Component Industry. Paper presented at the Applied Mechanics and Materials. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.315.686
Shah, R., & Ward, P. T. (2007). Defining and developing measures of lean production. Journal of Operations Management, 25(4), 785-805. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2007.01.019
Spear, S., & Bowen, H. K. (1999). Decoding the DNA of the Toyota production system. Harvard business review, 77, 96-108.
Stone, K.B. (2012). Four decades of lean: a systematic literature review. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 3(2), 112-132. DOI:10.1108/20401461211243702 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/20401461211243702
Sutton, D. (2001). What is knowledge and can it be managed? European Journal of Information Systems, 10(2), 80-88. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000397
Taj, S. (2005). Applying lean assessment tools in Chinese hi-tech industries. Management Decision, 43(4), 628-643. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740510593602
Timans, W., Antony, J., Ahaus, K. & van Solingen, R. (2012). Implementation of Lean Six Sigma in small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises in the Netherlands. The Journal of the Operational Research Society, 63 (3), 339-353. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/jors.2011.47
Tohidinia, Z., & Mosakhani, M. (2010). Knowledge sharing behaviour and its predictors. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 110(4), 611-631. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/02635571011039052
Tyagi, S., Cai, X., Yang, K. & Chambers, T. (2015). Lean tools and methods tosupport efficient knowledge creation. International Journal of Information Management, 35, 204–214. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2014.12.007
Uriarte, F. A. (2008). Introduction to knowledge management: a brief introduction to the basic elements of knowledge management for non-practitioners interested in understanding the subject: ASEAN Foundation.
Wagner, T., Herrmann, C., Thiede, S. (2017). Industry 4.0 impacts on lean production management. Procedia CIRP, 63, 125-131. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2017.02.041
White,R.E., Pearson J.N. & Wilson J.R. (1999). JIT Manufacturing: A Survey of implementations in small and large U.S. manufacturers. Management Science, 45(1), 1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.45.1.1
Wong, M. (2007). The role of culture in implementing lean production system. In J. Olhager & F. Persson (Eds.), IFIP international federation for information processing, Boston:Springer, 246, 413–422). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-74157-4_49
Worley, J., & Doolen, T. (2006). The role of communication and management support in a lean manufacturing implementation. Management Decision, 44(2), 228-245. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/00251740610650210
Zhou, B. (2016). Lean principles, practices, and impacts: a study on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Ann Operation Research, 241, 457–474. doi: 10.1007/s10479-012-1177-3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-012-1177-3
Copyright (c) 2019 Fadhilah Mohd Zahari
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.