The Role of Lean Practices in Successful Warehouse Management System Implementation

Industry 4.0 opens new business opportunities and allows companies to gain a competitive advantage by introducing digital technologies in their processes. However, the digitalization process can be critical and, if poorly executed, could lead to worse performance than at the beginning. It requires a great deal of analysis, but most importantly, it must be seen by all stakeholders to be successful and valuable to the firms. The following study explains how Lean Management practices can facilitate the success of Digitalization projects. Overall, Lean practices have been recognized as a fundamental driver for driving the process of digitalization. In particular, hard Lean practices facilitate the removal of waste from the process before the digitalization and a fair selection of the investments. On the other hand, soft practices such as the operators’ involvement are critical for overcoming the barriers to digital transformation and achieving the overarching company’s goal.