Silje Helene Aschehoug

Assessing lean’s impact on operational integration

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish a major project to create new insights on lean in the specific Norwegian context and further build on international research. Lean is relevant for the manufacturing industry, service, finance, healthcare and public sectors in Norway. There are, however, still many research questions to be raised. Design/methodology/approach – Two case companies have been studied, to identify what these companies have experienced as important enablers and disablers in their lean implementation process. The following research questions will be addressed: In what way(s) does lean contribute to greater operational integration? In what way(s) does lean hinder operational integration? The research methodology is based on semistructured interviews with selected persons from different levels within the companies. Findings – From this study, several common contributing factors have been found: the importance of commitment and presence on the part of management, use of visualizati...

Building sustainability knowledge for product development and design – experiences from four manufacturing firms

To further improve the sustainability performance of products, a framework for identification and compilation of sustainability information beyond mere product and process data has been developed. This has been done under the assumption that access to and use of such information may increase firm knowledge on sustainability issues as well as firm ability to develop more sustainable products, and thus enhance competitiveness by adding value to products beyond functionality, quality, and cost. This article presents the results from four case studies in the Norwegian furniture and automotive supplier industry, identifying the categories of sustainability information which firms find most important and relevant to product development. Factors influencing accessibility of such information have also been identified. Systematically identifying and compiling sustainability information the way proposed by the framework is suggested useful for developing requirements and specifications, for general decision support, and for generating knowledge that may inspire entirely new product meanings.

Sustainability Strategies in Industrial Practice

Sustainable product development (SPD) is a prerequisite to meet United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG). Manufacturing companies take on different strategies and ambitions in their sustainability approach. In a case study with four manufacturing companies; two automotive suppliers and two furniture companies, it is shed light on various strategies and practices for sustainability in industrial practice. The furniture companies have sustainability as a foundation for their business strategy and every day activities. On the other hand, the automotive suppliers obey regulations and their customers’ demands. One reason for different approaches is the companies place in the value chain. A company with the product focal brand is more likely to gain from sustainability strategies and actions.