Successful implementation of lean manufacturing and circular economy: what every company should consider
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29105/mdi.v13i22.336Keywords:
Circular Economy, Manufacturing, LeanAbstract
In this study, a documentary, descriptive, and field investigation was carried out, applying surveys designed based on the critical factors identified in the literature for the implementation of Lean Manufacturing and Circular Economy. The sample included 40 companies located in four industrial parks in the state of Querétaro, part of the 49 existing in municipalities such as El Marqués, Querétaro, Colón, Corregidora, San Juan del Río, and Pedro Escobedo, belonging to key sectors such as automotive, plastics, food, agriculture, among others.
The findings reveal a strong business interest in adopting these methodologies and moving toward sustainable operational models. However, significant barriers remain, particularly those related to organizational culture, resistance to change, and limitations in training programs. The integration of Lean Manufacturing and Circular Economy emerges as an essential strategy to strengthen competitiveness, optimize processes, and reduce environmental impacts in the region, providing a solid reference framework for industrial management supported by more than two decades of applied experience.
References
Abenojar, J., Velasco, F., & Martínez, M. (2021). Advances in sustainable materials and circular economy in manufacturing. Journal of Cleaner Production, 285, 124805. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124805
Ahmed, S., Hassan, M., Taha, Z., & Al-Ahmari, A. (2013). Lean manufacturing implementation in SMEs: Barriers and challenges. International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 4(2), 159–180. https://doi.org/10.1108/20401461311319312
Awad, B., Khoury, S., & Ayyash, K. (2019). Lean manufacturing and sustainability: Barriers in developing countries. Sustainability, 11(21), 6006. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11216006
Belda, M. (2018). Economía circular: principios y aplicaciones. Editorial Síntesis.
Črešnar, R., Drobne, S., & Prah, K. (2024). Circular economy in the automotive sector: European practices and perspectives. Sustainability, 16(3), 1123. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031123
Črešnar, R., Korošec, B., & Auer, A. (2024). Circular economy adoption in manufacturing: pathways and financial outcomes. Journal of Cleaner Production, 432, 139876.
de Miguel, C., Martínez, E., Pereira, Á., & Kohout, P. (2021). Integrating Lean Manufacturing and Circular Economy principles in industrial operations. Journal of Cleaner Production, 320, 128849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128849
Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2020). Completing the picture: How the circular economy tackles climate change. Ellen MacArthur Foundation. https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
Gupta, H., Kusi-Sarpong, S., & Rezaei, J. (2018). Barriers and drivers to circular economy implementation in emerging economies. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 137, 124–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.05.026
Gupta, S. M., Pochampally, K. K., & Kamarthi, S. V. (2018). Sustainable supply chains and circular economy: economic implications. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 131, 187–196.
Kawano, T., Nakamura, S., & Nakajima, K. (2023). Circular economy strategies in the Japanese automotive industry. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 27(2), 345–360. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.1332
Kim, Y., Lee, D., & Park, H. (2023). Technological barriers in implementing circular economy: Evidence from South Korea. Journal of Cleaner Production, 410, 137145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137145
Marras, S., Cutaia, L., & Taddei, M. (2022). Lean and circular economy: Integrated approaches in manufacturing. Procedia CIRP, 107, 356–362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2022.05.061
Marras, S., et al. (2022). Lean and green practices in industrial clusters: comparative analysis. Sustainability, 14(21), 14321.
Ochi, K., et al. (2023). Economic and environmental impacts of lean-circular integration in the automotive sector. Journal of Manufacturing Systems, 68, 222–234.
Ochi, K., Fujimoto, J., & Suga, Y. (2023). Circular economy adoption in Japan: Policies and industry practices. Sustainability, 15(9), 7354. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097354
Oluleye, D., Olayanju, T., & Ogunjimi, A. (2022). Multi-dimensional challenges in circular economy adoption. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 180, 106198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106198
Parlamento Europeo. (2023). Resolución del Parlamento Europeo sobre el Plan de Acción de Economía Circular. Oficina de Publicaciones de la Unión Europea. https://www.europarl.europa.eu
Production Tools. (2024). Tendencias globales de manufactura y sostenibilidad. Production Tools Research Institute. https://www.productiontools.org
Repsol. (2024). Economía circular: innovación y sostenibilidad en la industria energética. Repsol. https://www.repsol.com
Rojas, J., & Soler, R. (2017). Lean Manufacturing: fundamentos y aplicación práctica. Editorial Alfaomega.
Socconini, L. (2019). Lean Manufacturing paso a paso. Grupo Editorial Patria.
Womack, J. P., & Jones, D. T. (2003). Lean thinking: Banish waste and create wealth in your corporation (2ª ed.). Free Press.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
