School of Economics and Business, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
This research examines the interplay between lean manufacturing practices and Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies, with a specific focus on their influence on teams in manufacturing organizations. Lean, as a socio-technical system, emphasizes both technical tools and human-centered practices to enhance operational performance. While the integration of I4.0 technologies into lean environments has been shown to improve technical efficiencies, its effects on soft practices, remain underexplored. Teams, often considered the "heart" of lean organizations, are critical to organizational success, necessitating a deeper understanding of how advanced technologies influence team design. The study will empirically investigate team design characteristics, including autonomy, interdependence, task clarity, and task complexity, and their relationship with individual systematic problem-solving and overall team performance. Employing socio-technical systems theory as a framework, this research seeks to clarify how the integration of I4.0 technologies reshapes teams in lean settings. Data will be collected from frontline manufacturing teams, examining variations in lean implementation and I4.0 usage. The findings will offer valuable insights for practitioners aiming to optimize team design and enhance performance in digitally enabled lean organizations. This work contributes to theory by advancing our understanding of the socio-technical dynamics at the intersection of lean and I4.0 and, provides actionable recommendations for organizational leaders.
