Title: Changing to a lean organisation: the case of a chemicals company

Authors: Zoe Radnor

Addresses: University of Bradford Management Centre, Emm Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD9 4JL, UK

Abstract: This paper will describe the development of an analytical tool - the Manufacturing Business Strategic Framework - which highlights how many of the recent manufacturing techniques are interrelated due to their aim of achieving ||better management or utilisation of the organisation resources||. The proposed framework is then applied to a large UK Chemical Company which has embraced many changes and innovations throughout the last six years in order to succeed. From a position of survival in 1990 the company first drove culture changes in peoples behaviour from the top, before restructuring the organisation which led to outstanding results in 1995. The paper will outline the process of change and, evaluate it both in terms of the effect and the future ||health|| of the organisation.

Keywords: case study; chemicals industry; corporate anorexia; lean organisation; manufacturing; process of change; qualitative research; strategy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2000.001356

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2000 Vol.1 No.4/5, pp.444-454

Published online: 02 Jul 2003 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article