Change management in lean implementation: a case study in a local apparel manufacturing group

Abstract

Apparel industry is the main exporter and the contributor to the Sri Lankan economy. In order to stay competitive in the global market place, one major local apparel manufacturing group adopted lean manufacturing tool for its companies. The study explored how these apparel manufacturing companies managed the change process of transforming to a lean manufacturing culture. The study selected three companies of this group and adopted the case study method for investigating this situation. Based on the findings it developed a theoretical framework to understand how change process should be managed in implementing lean in the local apparel industry.