Contribution of Lean Manufacturing System to the Green Productivity towards the Sustainable Manufacturing

Abstract

Lean manufacturing is one of the well-known philosophies which focuses on the reduction of waste. Green productivity focuses on the greener application on the organisation which leads to the Sustainability. This study is to identify the significance of the lean Manufacturing approach towards the Green productivity improvement to practice as a simultaneous approach to develop the organizational productivity and less environmental impact which marches towards sustainability. This study is a mixed method, both qualitative and quantitative, Applied and Conceptual research in nature. The main objective of the proposed study is to identify the significant contribution of lean manufacturing practices towards the green productivity in apparel Industry in Sri Lanka. Sub Research objectives are, (1) to identify the Green waste related to “MUDA” types under Lean Manufacturing which has an impact towards green productivity, (2) to quantify the impact of lean manufacturing ‘MUDA’ waste towards green productivity, (3) to calculate the quantify values of lean Manufacturing waste types towards green productivity quantification values, (4) to develop a lean waste and environmental friendly Metrix to control the environmental impact by the apparel industry in Sri Lanka, (5) to identify the financial improvement of the effect by the application of Greener Lean concept. Both primary and secondary data will be used for the study. Population Unit is considered as Brandix Pvt Ltd–Kuliyapitiya Ltd and Hela Pvt Ltd Uhumeya in SL (Lean and Non-Lean industries). Population is considered as Annual process data related to eight MUDA types in production system. Sample is Six months MUDA data (expected nearly more than 1000 processes for six month) from each plant. We will interview responsible authorities- nearly 30 executive levels from each plant. Sample selection method is Simple Random sampling method under Statistical sampling methods. Reliability study, Multiple Regression Analysis, and correlation coefficients, Chi test for sample mean, lean manufacturing tools and Green Productivity tools will be used to analyse the data.