APPLICATION OF TOTAL INTERPRETIVE STRUCTURAL MODELLING FOR LEAN PERFORMANCE – A CASE STUDY

Effective and efficient implementation of lean manufacturing in industries is dependent on the ways in which its measures like elimination of wastes, zero defects, optimum utilisation of resources etc. are understood in correct sense and successful handling of the uncertainties faced by the industry. Manufacturing flexibilities like labour flexibility, product flexibility, machine flexibility, volume flexibility, material handling flexibility and routing flexibility assist industry in a great way to take care of uncertainties and fluctuations driven by complexities of the market. Manufacturing flexibility parameters bear interrelations among themselves and need to be analysed judiciously to understand their effect on lean manufacturing. In the present study, total interpretive structural modelling (TISM) technique is used for finding out and analysing relationships among the factors which affect lean performance. TISM is applied while carrying out a case study in a company to understand the dynamism and complexity of factors guiding lean performance. The study brings out analysis of the driving and dependence power and helps in understanding the influence of hierarchy and level of factors identified by TISM technique on lean performance in a company as also the factors which merit attention of top management to achieve better results.