Abstract

Lean Automation (LA) is defined as the combined use of Lean Production (LP) practices and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies. This paper investigates the pairwise relationships between the LA practices and their corresponding implementation competences. A survey-based study with 110 practitioners from manufacturing companies was conducted. Multivariate data techniques were used to analyze the responses, which were categorized according to practitioners’ LP experience and I4.0 knowledge. Findings indicate that the relationships between competences and LA practices become more prominent as practitioners’ LP experience increases. A contrary trend was observed when I4.0 knowledge increases. Nevertheless, commonalities were found regardless respondents’ characteristics, such as: (i) the significant relationships between LA practices and competences were all positive; (ii) supply chain-related LA practices are more likely to be extensively associated with all competences; and (iii) competences related to the ability of identifying, analyzing and solving problems through computer programming and data analytics were the most likely to support LA practices. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that empirically verifies the pairwise relationship between competences and LA practices. The understanding of this allows companies to foster and develop the proper competences on the employees, catalyzing the LA implementation.

摘要

精益自动化 (LA) 被定义为精益生产 (LP) 实践和工业 4.0 (I4.0) 技术的结合使用。本文研究了洛杉矶实践与其相应的实施能力之间的成对关系。对来自制造公司的 110 名从业者进行了一项基于调查的研究。使用多元数据技术来分析响应，并根据从业者的 LP 经验和 I4.0 知识进行分类。结果表明，随着从业者 LP 经验的增加，能力与 LA 实践之间的关系变得更加突出。当 I4.0 知识增加时，观察到相反的趋势。然而，无论受访者的特征如何，都发现了共性，例如：(i) LA 实践和能力之间的重要关系都是积极的；(ii) 与供应链相关的 LA 实践更有可能与所有能力广泛相关；(iii) 与通过计算机编程和数据分析识别、分析和解决问题的能力相关的能力最有可能支持洛杉矶实践。据我们所知，这是第一项实证验证能力与洛杉矶实践之间成对关系的研究。对这一点的理解使公司能够培养和发展员工的适当能力，从而促进 LA 的实施。通过计算机编程和数据分析来分析和解决问题最有可能支持洛杉矶的做法。据我们所知，这是第一项实证验证能力与洛杉矶实践之间成对关系的研究。对这一点的理解使公司能够培养和发展员工的适当能力，从而促进 LA 的实施。通过计算机编程和数据分析来分析和解决问题最有可能支持洛杉矶的做法。据我们所知，这是第一项实证验证能力与洛杉矶实践之间成对关系的研究。对这一点的理解使公司能够培养和发展员工的适当能力，从而促进 LA 的实施。