Role of Manpower Flexibility in Lean Manufacturing

Abstract

Shift from mass production to production of small lots with frequent changeovers, rapid product innovations and an unprecedented level of competition have forced manufacturing industry to become more efficient, reduce wastage of resources, and adopt lean structures. Two major resources, which contribute towards lean manufacturing, are machinery and equipment and flexible manpower. Flexible machinery and equipment make possible the production of small lots without wasting time on changeovers. Manpower flexibility, involving a flexible attitude, multiple skills, and ability to perform a variety of jobs, facilitates uninterrupted work and optimal utilization of resources. This chapter presents a study carried out in the manufacturing industry for finding out the status of labor flexibility and lean manufacturing in small-scale manufacturing industry and the relationship between the two. The study concludes that there is a strong relationship between labor flexibility and lean manufacturing. The firms where the labor flexibility is higher are generating less amount of waste of resources and are closer to the implementation of lean manufacturing.