Lean manufacturing, culture and their role on sustainability: A case study in the Chinese automotive industry

This paper focuses on lean manufacturing and culture and how they influence the sustainability initiatives of an Automotive company in China. The principle of lean manufacturing is widely applied in the automotive industry worldwide. The last few decades have witnessed the accelerating pace of China’s continued emergence as a major industrial power. With the globalisation of multinational corporations and the development of domestic automotive enterprises, there is an increasing number of cross-cultural motor manufacturing companies starting their business in China. In these companies, cultural diversity is an important factor that affects the management strategies. Using a case study approach, this paper shows the relevant themes on the role of lean manufacturing and culture on the sustainability initiatives taken by the company.