Understanding the relationship, trends, and integration challenges between lean manufacturing and industry 4.0. A literature review

Abstract

This research investigates the synergistic relationship between Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, crucial paradigms in modern industry, through a literature review of 60 scientific articles published from January 2013 to November 2023. The study reveals a tripartite relationship: Industry 4.0 technologies amplify Lean Manufacturing’s efficiency; Lean Manufacturing principles facilitate Industry 4.0 adoption; and their interaction fosters mutual enhancement, indicating a dynamic interplay. The results show three main trends: combining Industry 4.0 technologies, especially the Internet of Things, with Lean Manufacturing principles to make things more efficient and productive; highlighting the important role of Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 in tackling sustainability issues and encouraging eco-friendly practices; and combining Lean principles with Industry 4.0 as a step toward Industry 5.0. Challenges include the need for a cultural transformation to align Lean’s simplicity with Industry 4.0’s complexity, resolve compatibility issues between legacy systems and new technologies, enhance data management and cybersecurity, address skill deficiencies through staff training, and ensure supplier and partner alignment. This research enriches academic and industrial discourse by presenting a novel outlook on the convergence of lean manufacturing and Industry 4.0, highlighting its significance for future works.