LEAN MANUFACTURING ADOPTION IN MALAYSIA: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to perform a systematic literature review (SLR) on lean manufacturing (LM) adoption in Malaysia while highlighting research trends and gaps from this literature. The SLR involved analysing 163 scholarly articles from international journals and conference proceedings published between the year 2005 to 2019. The articles are classified as literature review, conceptual paper, case study, and survey research. These articles were also grouped into nine meaningful research themes, named: (1) lean definitions, (2) sustaining lean adoption, (3) motivations to adopt lean, (4) lean benefits, (5) results from lean adoption, (6) lean implementation barriers, (7) lean success factors, (8) lean implementation/ assessment models, and (9) lean integration with other management practices. The review findings shall help scholars and practitioners to identify research opportunities, design their future studies and/or implementation strategies, accordingly.