Optimization of Lean Implementation by the Seven New Operational Areas.

In the implementation of Lean manufacturing (LM) the focus was to eliminate the barriers within the ten generic barrier areas to achieve a remarkable success. The Automotive Supply Chain (ASC) in South Africa (SA) found these ten generic barrier areas insufficient because of the culture mix, level of education of employees, religion, and cultural values. To optimize the implementation of LM the ASC in SA found seven new barrier areas that needs subordination. The seven barrier areas are not yet documented as critical in the academic work. The seven areas are Green Technologies, workers, sustenance, safety, security, profitability, and Marketing, but are discussed elsewhere with no relation to implementing LM. These have increased the success rate in the SA setting. Some of these technologies are broken down to subunits because they involve many attributes. The study will elaborate the generic ten critical areas then discuss the seven as findings in the ASC in SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]