An Overview of Lean Production and Industry 4.0 in Different Context

Abstract

The goal of most companies is to increase the productivity minimizing the resources' usage. In this sense, Lean Production (LP) is one of the major concepts in the creation of highly efficient processes since the early 1990s, having successfully challenged conventional mass-production practices, reducing non-value-added activities, and delivering quality products focused on customers' satisfaction. Nonetheless, with the latest technologies changes and markets requirements, companies have to led with the emergence of innovative management and production methodologies in order to achieve the necessary flexibility to survive in highly competitive environments. The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the related Industry 4.0 technologies are driving the current manufacturing systems to a new level of organizational development. This manuscript focuses on the work that has been developed by the Group of Industrial Engineering and Management (GIEM) from University of Beira Interior, Portugal, aiming to fill the gap in the broad body of knowledge fields related with operation and management. The theoretical background of LP is summarized, followed by a survey conducted in 87 manufacturing companies located in Angola. Then, an Industry 4.0 overview highlights are summarized. Lastly, it is explored how LP and Industry 4.0 integration can contribute to increasing the desirable flexibility and productivity. Although the results are in progress, so far, it is suggested that the implementation of LP and Industry 4.0 concepts in Angola are not being uniformed in terms of companies' size and geography, which is in line with the available literature.