Implementação de práticas Lean em PMEs da indústria portuguesa

  • Inês Filipa Botequim Nunes (Student)

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

Nowadays the effect of globalization has an impact on all types of industries, putting great pressure on companies due to the continuously changing market conditions. The diversity and rise in the offer of services and products allied with increasingly shorter product life cycles drives companies to try to stand out through customization, speed, and quality. Therefore, the ability to innovate and efficiently face the current paradigm has become the differential factor for the success of any organization. In this context, Lean practices emerge as a management philosophy focused on maximizing the value generated by reducing waste, following continuous improvement. This thesis intends to characterize the implementation of Lean methodology in SME companies – due to their overwhelming presence in the national market. To explore this topic, it will be conducted an inductive and exploratory research. Plus, ten interviews of SME companies in the Portuguese industry where the Lean methodology was being applied. The results obtained show that: (1) the main drivers for implementation are the certification processes or management influence; (2) continuous improvement, 5S and visual management are the practices most valued by SMEs; (3) lack of resources and knowledge are the main obstacles to the development of this practice; (4) among the benefits there was an increase in productivity, quality and safety, and better space management. These results suggest that SMEs are interested and are making efforts to implement Lean practices, however the difficulties encountered are having a delaying effect on the success of the implementations.
Date of Award17 Dec 2021
Original languagePortuguese
Awarding Institution
  • Universidade Católica Portuguesa
SupervisorJorge Julião (Supervisor) & Marcelo Gaspar (Co-Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Lean practices
  • Lean implementation
  • SME
  • Portuguese industry

Designation

  • Mestrado em Gestão

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