Various manufacturers worldwide have successfully implemented lean manufacturing in their system. Nevertheless, unlike in many modern multinational companies, few studies have been conducted on this implementation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Lean manufacturing remains a difficult subject for most small and medium enterprises (SMEs); however, its benefits and the barriers to its implementation continue to be a discussion topic among such firms. Therefore, this paper discusses the implementation of lean manufacturing from the perspective of SMEs. It also presents the rationales for this adoption with respect to SMEs as well as the barriers that facilitate the practice of lean manufacturing in this context.

Keywords : Lean manufacturing, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), requirements, barriers.