A domain model for capturing knowledge of the Lean approach

Abstract

Purpose: The literature offers many definitions of the Lean but it lacks a standard definition that would facilitate its implementation. These definitions are closely related to the specificities of the domain, sector or problem studied. The purpose of this paper is to capture the concepts of the Lean to propose a generic definition independent of the application domain. Design/methodology/approach: Eighteen Lean systematic literature reviews in different domains have been studied in this paper to understand the Lean and capture the concepts thoroughly. These reviews reviewed a total of more than 2171 articles. Findings: This paper presents a new reading of the Lean. A Lean domain model has been established to represent the concepts and their interactions. Research limitations/implications: This research is limited by the papers indexed in the Scopus database and presenting a systematic literature review. Originality/value: A reference model of the Lean lacks in the literature. The proposed domain model clarifies the Lean and provides a holistic view that is valid in all domains.