Lean Robotics: A Multivocal Literature Review

Abstract

Lean, as a business approach, has gained popularity in several functional areas. One of these applications is Lean Robotics that focus on the utilization of Lean aspects to improve robotic deployment. This study aims to be the first to conduct a Multivocal review on what Lean Robotics is, its main components, its benefits, and challenges and how it evolved. It was found that Lean Robotics is defined differently by some sources, and that its components can be understood both theoretically and practically. The benefits of Lean Robotics are found to resonate from the prioritization of human and machine collaboration, and the use of various Lean tools via continuous improvement. However, some challenges of Lean Robotics like cost and fear might arise if organizations are uneducated in what Lean Robotics offers regarding its knowledge.