Lean thinking as organisational practice in enabling supply chain sustainability

The research formulates a sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) strategy for manufacturers weaving green practices. The study demonstrates the potential of lean thinking that leads corporate sustainability practice to success aiming to help business move away from wasteful work habits. A study of supply chain sustainability adoption was pursued with 527 manufacturing firms in 17 industrialised countries that were practicing lean production. A research model and three hypotheses are proposed to create a link between lean and sustainable supply chains. We theorised that manufacturers embrace lean as a pro-environmental practice with a cross-organisational commitment in an electronically-enabled supply chain environment hold promise for adopting SSCM. We found remarkably good generalisation, in which the concept can be used as a reference for developing countries. The results imply that manufacturers in developing countries may consider going lean first in consideration of humanistic values before moving towards adopting sustainability for a better chance of success.