A cluster analysis of companies implementing lean principles in Europe

This paper aims at analyzing barriers encountered by firms in implementing lean projects and at classifying them according to the degree of difficulties experienced. In accordance with a literary review, lean barriers can be bundled into five categories, depending on the organizational perspective they deal with. An online survey was developed considering the groups of lean difficulties and it was then distributed to 5000 European organizations, in order to get information and perceptions about the success of lean journeys and the degree of difficulties experienced. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and cluster analysis, in particular using a combination of Hierarchical and K-Means methods. Results showed that respondent organizations can be clustered into two groups and, through the analysis of contingency tables, comparisons and further information about clusters composition were extracted: clusters resulted well defined in terms of degree of difficulties experienced and success of lean projects. Moreover, the existence of a relationship between firms' dimensions and success in lean implementation was verified in all clusters.