Towards digital lean manufacturing: A Brazilian case

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a case study to describe the contact points between industry 4.0 technologies and lean manufacturing practices, that characterize the concept of digital lean manufacturing. Design/methodology/approach - After building a research framework extracted from the literature review, a single and in-depth case study was carried out in a Brazilian factory to understand the implementation of the digital lean manufacturing. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis, and resulted in the development of a conceptual map. Findings - The results revealed characteristics regarding six contact points implemented in the organization investigated. Also, it was observed that the results with the digitization of lean practices are consistent with the traditional literature, as they are aimed at reducing operating costs, eliminating waste, increasing quality, reducing lead time and real-time information. Research limitations/implications - The results of the research are based on a single case study and cannot be generalized. Therefore, the application of the same research framework will be conducted in other companies. Practical implications - Understanding the requirements for implementing the contact points illustrated in this case can help lean practitioners in the process of converting to the digital lean manufacturing model. However, it is understood that the implementation of DLM requires investments in technology and organizational culture aligned to the digital transformation. Originality/value - This work represents the first attempt to verify the adequacy of a research framework for the characterization of digital lean manufacturing practices.