Integration of IT into a Lean Basic Training: Target Group-Specific Insights and Recommendations

Abstract

Lean Management and high cost automation are often seen as contradictory. Several studies however have shown that Lean Management and IT can actually match and complement each other. If the overall topic is the evolution of Lean from a simple tool box approach to a Lean 4.0 stage, this paper discusses how IT can be integrated into a Lean Basic Training. The training takes place in a traditional Lean learning factory with a real product and a real value stream. Combining a qualitative and quantitative approach, Lean experts and participants of a Lean Basic Training were asked if they saw any benefit in the use of IT in the training. In addition, they were asked which elements of the Lean training should be supported by IT. By applying inferential statistics, influences of target groups on IT integration were discovered. Among others, integration is significantly influenced by the companies the participants come from, by their level of education, their Lean experience and their IT affinity. Combining these influences of the target groups with insights from literature and the opinion of Lean experts from local companies, selected aspects of IT integration are discussed. Finally, recommendations are given how IT can be integrated into a Lean Basic Training in a traditional Lean learning factory.