Critical team success factors and lean manufacturing: An empirical study

In order to utilize the skills and competencies of an organization’s resources effectively, firms must encourage behaviors and work practices that help elicit the organization’s performance. In addition, the influence that these operating styles and behaviors have on the organization must be understood. The principle purpose of this study was to evaluate the empirical and theoretical literature on critical team success factors and the effects on lean manufacturing in supporting team performance. The study was intended to identify if lean manufacturing positively impacts performance but can be influenced by team effectiveness and design. An exhaustive literature review on the academic and practitioner research was conducted to provide a foundation for understanding lean manufacturing practices and critical team success factors. The study used a survey instrument to test the validity of the hypotheses developed based on the theoretical foundations. Finally, the study concluded by recommending proposed areas for future research in lean manufacturing practices, which may yield breakthroughs in organizational performance in other complex manufacturing environments.