An Analysis of the Impact of Lean and Safety

Organizations are using lean to improve productivity. However, misapplication of lean techniques may lead to safety issues, health problems, and accidents. The money companies spend on compensation claims is fundamentally a waste - companies should augment their lean initiatives with a concern for safety and health. The purpose of this research is to investigate whether companies are integrating workers\u27 safety and health with lean. A survey was conducted and results showed areas for improvement particularly the need to crosstrain safety and lean, considering ergonomics in work cell design, and an increased awareness of the impact on workers when processes are changed