Lean and the quality of work

Lean has for the last decade developed as the dominating model for developing productions processes not only within industry but also in health care, administration and service industries in general. With this development a discussion on human factors aspects of lean has developed internationally. Literature studies documents that it is not possible to establish a clear relation between lean and the psychosocial aspects of work. The studies also indicate that the context and the implementations process play a dominating role in how lean is experienced. This has been the basis for establishing an intervention study comprising 9 Danish enterprises involved in implementing lean. Based on tentative results from cases from the present studies the findings from the literature study can be elaborated. It reveals some of the dynamics an ergonomist have to take into consideration in influencing the lean program. This opens for a discussion of the potential to establish a primary prevention towards psycho-social aspects of work.