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The Productivity Leap: Effects of an Industry Program for Norwegian SMEs

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Advances in Production Management Systems. Production Management Systems for Responsible Manufacturing, Service, and Logistics Futures (APMS 2023)

Part of the book series: IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology ((IFIPAICT,volume 689))

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Abstract

Industry programs have been a method of lifting the competence of especially Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) that otherwise would not be interested or could not afford such efforts. In this paper we present a case study of four Norwegian SMEs that participated in a Lean Production based industry program for Small and Medium sized Businesses in Norway. The aim of the program is to lift the productivity level of the participating companies through teaching and coaching lean production tools, methods, and leadership ideals. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews and documents obtained from the companies with the intent of discovering how and if the companies successfully applied the content of the program and the effects of the program on company performance. The companies that participated in this study was part of the first round of the program and had all gone through the whole program, as such the study is retrospective. It was found that companies experienced some positive results from the program but struggled to spread the learning from the program to other parts of the business, and to continue its improvement journey once the program had ended.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    https://www.ssb.no/energi-og-industri/industri-og-bergverksdrift/statistikk/omsetning-I-olje-og-gass-industri-bergverk-og-kraftforsyning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SINTEF Manufacturing, Raufoss, Trondheim, Norway

    Eivind Reke, Natalia Iakymenko & Mette Holmriis Bugger

Authors
  1. Eivind Reke
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  2. Natalia Iakymenko
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  3. Mette Holmriis Bugger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eivind Reke .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Erlend Alfnes

  2. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Anita Romsdal

  3. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Jan Ola Strandhagen

  4. ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Friedrichshafen, Germany

    Gregor von Cieminski

  5. Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico City, Mexico

    David Romero

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Reke, E., Iakymenko, N., Bugger, M.H. (2023). The Productivity Leap: Effects of an Industry Program for Norwegian SMEs. In: Alfnes, E., Romsdal, A., Strandhagen, J.O., von Cieminski, G., Romero, D. (eds) Advances in Production Management Systems. Production Management Systems for Responsible Manufacturing, Service, and Logistics Futures. APMS 2023. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol 689. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43662-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43662-8_8

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-43661-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-43662-8

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