Randomized trial finds that Lean 4.0 integration boosts operational performance in the industry, highlighting the importance of the human factor.
The integration of Lean manufacturing (LM) with Industry 4.0 (I4.0), often referred to as Lean 4.0, is a vital approach to enhancing industrial performance. We propose and test a Lean 4.0 integration model in which I4.0 technologies enhance Lean practices, with the human factor serving as a key moderator. Using a cross‐sectional survey of 130 industrial professionals in France and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM), we find strong evidence supporting all three hypotheses. Lean 4.0 integration positively affects operational performance; the human factor is the strongest predictor of direct performance effects; and real‐time performance measurement (measurability) mediates the relationship between integration and performance. The study emphasizes that Lean 4.0 is not just a technological upgrade but a strategic organizational change that shifts operational systems, human roles, and performance metrics toward digitally driven continuous improvement.
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Hrouga et al. (2026) studied this question.
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