Lean manufacturig e pequenas empresas: limitações e desafios à implemetação

Abstract

Lean Manufacturing has established itself as an important ally for organizations in their search for operational efficiency and continuous improvement. However, its application in small businesses presents significant challenges. Starting from the following question: What are the main challenges faced by small companies in implementing Lean Manufacturing, according to the literature? This study aims to analyze the main obstacles faced by these organizations during the implementation of Lean Manufacturing, based on studies available in the academic literature. The research, of a basic and qualitative nature, was carried out through a bibliographic review and content analysis, based on materials collected from sources such as scientific articles, magazines, websites, among other materials available on the topic, with a 10-year cut-off, from 2014 to 2024. The results indicate that small businesses often face structural, cultural, and operational barriers that hinder and delay the implementation process. However, adopting appropriate tools and adapting Lean practices to organizational realities can help overcome these challenges and generate positive results. The conclusion is that, despite the challenges, applying Lean Manufacturing to small businesses is viable when adopted in a planned and adaptive manner.