Lean equals Green? : A case study on Scania’s production system and environmental performance

Abstract: It is said that Lean production has a potential to reduce a company’s environmental impact. The reasons for it are that Lean production is resource efficient and eliminates unnecessary steps and waste in the production. The purpose of this report is, with support of theoretical and empirical studies, answer the research question: Can the Lean concept positively affect a company’s environmental performance? Lean principles and methods focus on elimination of waste, continuous improvement and resource efficiency which can positively impact on a company’s environmental performance. Lean tools, additionally, can be expanded to comprise environmental issues. Also in this report, the incorporation of environmental work with the studied company’s production system principles and methods is favourable to its environmental performance since environmental work is being employed in every aspect of the business itself.