TITLE:
Integration of Occupational Health and Safety into Lean Manufacturing: Quebec Aeronautics Case Study
AUTHORS:
Amine Sakouhi, Sylvie Nadeau
KEYWORDS:
Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Sustainability
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Industrial and Business Management,
Vol.6 No.11,
November
4,
2016
ABSTRACT: The
literature remains divided the ideal conditions for integration of occupational
health and safety (OHS) into continuous improvement initiatives based on the
principles of lean manufacturing. Few significant results and little
documentation exist on the effectiveness, sustainability and the degree of
integration. This paper outlines some possible explanations for the non-success
of this integration and examines the hypothesis that integration is
unsuccessful when the lean-based improvements themselves suffer from
sustainability issues. This research project addressed the case of a Québec
manufacturing company and focused on musculoskeletal injury (MSI). Twenty-four
employees participated in the study for two months. Corporate documentation was
analyzed. Individual interviews were used to document workers’ perception of
their work environment. Continuous improvement interventions were observed to
identify possible risks of MSI, and obtain a general portrait of OHS and continuous
improvement in this company. The majority of the employees surveyed believed
that the continuous improvement initiatives were short-lived. They also
reported they experienced MSI-related discomfort following organizational
changes. Examination of several initiatives showed that results were not
maintained over time. The integration of OHS into continuous improvement is not
systematic. When this integration is apparent, OHS goals are not always met and
are rarely subject to monitoring. Taking OHS into consideration, implementing
lean principles does not directly guarantee a reduction in cases of MSI. The
integration of OHS into continuous improvement activities is reflected in the
systematic consideration of OHS in driving lean improvements. The results of
this project will help to develop a better approach to the implementation of
lean to improve this integration in our industries.