The DOI matches its Crossref record; 58 of the 58 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The effects of lean production on worker job stress
Abstract
Purpose: This empirical paper seeks to address the neglected work condition aspect of lean production (LP) implementation, specifically the relationship between LP and worker job stress. Design/methodology/approach: The Karasek job stress model was used to link shopfloor practices to expected worker stress. The model incorporates the effects of job demands (physical and psychological), job control and social support. The study employs management and worker questionnaires, management interviews and structured plant tours. The response variable is total worker job stress – the sum of the physical and mental stress levels. The independent variable for the first question is the degree of lean implementation at the sites. Findings: The results are based on 1,391 worker responses at 21 sites in the four UK industry sectors. About 11 tested practices are significantly related to stress and an unexpected non‐linear response of stress to lean implementation is identified. Results indicate that LP is not inherently stressful, with stress levels significantly related to management decisions in designing and operating LP systems. Practical implications: The hypotheses tests shed light on the relationships between LP practices and job stress, and reveal a significant managerial influence on stress levels. The regression model shows the scale and significant lean practices of this influence, with the work practices explaining 30 percent of job stress variations. The stress reduction and stress control opportunities identified in the study show the potential for designing and operating effective lean systems while also controlling stress levels. Originality/value: This is the first known multi‐industry empirical study of the relationship of job stress to a range of lean practices and to the degree of lean implementation.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“By transforming work structures and processes, Lean also affects the employees responsible for carrying out the work, as studies of Lean outside of healthcare demonstrate [32–36].”
From Lean Thinking in Emergency Departments: A Critical Review (2011) · cites this paper as [32]
In the citing paper
“These undesirable employee effects are well documented in the broader Lean literature [32–39, 94–97] but may not show up in reports on Lean in health care either because of how Lean is implemented in health care or because studies in health care simply do not measure employee effects.”
From Lean Thinking in Emergency Departments: A Critical Review (2011) · cites this paper as [32]
In the citing paper
“Lean implementers and researchers should be aware that Lean can increase workload, threaten autonomy, and bring about anxiety.”
From Lean Thinking in Emergency Departments: A Critical Review (2011) · cites this paper as [32]
In the citing paper
“Lean implementers and researchers should be aware that Lean can increase workload, threaten autonomy, and bring about anxiety.”
From Lean Thinking in Emergency Departments: A Critical Review (2011) · cites this paper as [32]
In the citing paper
“Lean implementers and researchers should be aware that Lean can increase workload, threaten autonomy, and bring about anxiety.”
From Lean Thinking in Emergency Departments: A Critical Review (2011) · cites this paper as [32]
Citations
Cites
The machine that changed the world
(1992) · Long Range Planning · doi:10.1016/0024-6301(92)90400-v · Cited by 5,820
Toyota production system: beyond large-scale production
Ohno, T., & Rosen, C. B. (1998) · CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Cited by 4,544
Total quality management as competitive advantage: A review and empirical study
Powell, T. C. (1995) · Strategic Management Journal · doi:10.1002/smj.4250160105 · Cited by 2,650
A Study of the Toyota Production System From an Industrial Engineering Viewpoint
Shingo, S., & Bodek, N. (2019) · doi:10.4324/9781315136509 · Cited by 1,064
(1990) · Computers Environment and Urban Systems · doi:10.1016/0198-9715(90)90035-r · Cited by 1,025
Research on work-related stress
Cox, T. (2000) · Cited by 529
Britain At Work: As Depicted by the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey
Cully, M., O'Reilly, A., & Dix, G. (1999) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 465
Choosing Sides: Unions and the Team Concept
Wells, D., Parker, M., & Slaughter, J. (1992) · Labour / Le Travail · doi:10.2307/25143610 · Cited by 441
Ergonomics contributions to company strategies
Dul, J., & Neumann, P. (2008) · Applied Ergonomics · doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2008.07.001 · Cited by 436
An examination of the relationships between JIT and financial performance
Fullerton, R. R., McWatters, C. S., & Fawson, C. (2003) · Journal of Operations Management · doi:10.1016/s0272-6963(03)00002-0 · Cited by 422
Research works printed but not linked: 12
- Berggren, C., Adler, P. and Cole, R. (1994), “NUMMI vs Uddevalla”, Sloan Management Review, Winter, pp. 37‐49.
- Buchanan, D. (1994), “Cellular manufacturing and the role of teams”, in Storey, J. (Ed.), New Wave Manufacturing Strategy, Paul Chapman, London.
- Conti, R. (1990), “The effect of restrictive work practices on repetitive flow, just‐in‐time manufacturing costs”, PhD dissertation, Lehigh University, University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI.
- Cranwell‐Ward, J. (1998), “Stress”, in Poole, M. and Warner, M. (Eds), The Handbook of Human Resource Management, International Thomson Business Press, London.
- Fucini, J. and Fucini, S. (1990), Working for the Japanese, The Free Press, New York, NY.
- Graham, L. (1995), On the Line at Suburu‐Isuzu: The Japanese Model, ILR Press, Ithaca, NY.
- Koenigsaecker, G. (2000), “Multiple sites multiply change and management challenges”, The Lean Manufacturing Advisor, June, pp. 3‐7.
- Labour Market Trends (2001), Vol. 109 No. 6.
- Schonberger, R. (1982), Japanese Manufacturing Techniques, Lessons in Simplicity, The Free Press, New York, NY.
- Schonberger, R. (1998), “The Japanese era (1970s) and its influence on OM”, paper presented at the POMS Conference, Santa Fe, NM, March 30‐31.
- Shimizu, K. (1995), “Humanization of the production system and work at Toyota motor company and Toyota motor kyushu”, in Sandberg, A. (Ed.), Enriching Production, Avebury, Aldershot.
- Shingo, S. (1989), A Study of the Toyota Production System, Productivity Press, Portland, OR.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 301–336 of 336
Bruère, S. (2018) · Annales des Mines - Gérer et comprendre · doi:10.3917/geco1.132.0022
Continu verbeteren in een Vlaams woonzorgcentrum: ook beter voor zorgverleners?
Bal, M., Benders, J., & Vermeerbergen, L. J. G. (2019) · Tijdschrift voor Arbeidsvraagstukken · doi:10.5117/2019.035.002.009
Moyano‐Fuentes, J., & Dı́az, M. S. (2012)
Lean management à l’hôpital, préserver la santé des personnels ?
Morvan, E., & Delecroix, B. (2020) · Soins Cadres · doi:10.1016/j.scad.2020.02.009
Lundberg, U., & Cooper, C. L. (2010) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781444391121.refs
Self-citation(2013) · doi:10.1201/b14702-10
Impactos nos fatores psicossociais de lideranças em sistemas de produção enxuta
Forte, I. K. (2022) · Sistemas & Gestão · doi:10.20985/1980-5160.2021.v16n3.1683
Village, J. L., Searcy, C., Salustri, F. A., & Neumann, P. (2021) · doi:10.32920/14636886.v1
Cullinane, S. (2015) · Wiley Encyclopedia of Management · doi:10.1002/9781118785317.weom110020
Village, J. L., Searcy, C., Salustri, F. A., & Neumann, P. (2021) · doi:10.32920/14636886
Fliedner, G. (2022) · Universal Journal of Operations and Management · doi:10.37256/ujom.1220221419
HIGH-TECH INDUSTRY PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT
Venclovas, M. (2022) · Mokslas - Lietuvos ateitis · doi:10.3846/mla.2022.15554
Ingrained interests and path-dependency
Yang, G., & Yang, L. (2022) · Work Organisation Labour & Globalisation · doi:10.13169/workorgalaboglob.16.2.0082
The effect of Lean on overall performance: Evolution of the new model
Boutayeb, A., Ennadi, A., Chamat, A., & Sabbani, Y. (2022) · International Colloquium on Logistics and Supply Chain Management (LOGISTIQUA) · doi:10.1109/logistiqua55056.2022.9938111
Implementation of Lean management Practices in Azerbaijan (on the Example of a Private Company)
Alaskarova, Y., Aleskerova, A., & Daróczi, M. (2023) · International Journal of Engineering and Management Sciences · doi:10.21791/ijems.2022.4.3
Temporal architecture of Leaned welfare service work
Lehto, I. (2023) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003309789-4
Kondić, V., Maglić, L., Runje, L., & Maric, D. (2023) · Advances in Production Engineering & Management · doi:10.14743/apem2023.2.467
Barbosa, G. F., Campos, V. R., & Filho, A. N. D. M. (2023) · Anais ... Encontro Nacional de Engenharia de Produção/Anais do Encontro Nacional de Engenharia de Produção · doi:10.14488/enegep2023_tn_st_406_1997_46653
Razouk, A. A., & Quéméner, Y. (2025) · Question(s) de management · doi:10.3917/qdm.233.0153
Review of Human Factors and Automotive Assembly Line Control Systems for Sustainable Production
Remutula, P., Claffey, C., Ward, T., Carroll, D., & Papakostas, N. (2025) · Procedia CIRP · doi:10.1016/j.procir.2025.08.158
Stronczek, A. (2025) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su17198532 · Cited by 1
Avaliação de riscos em processos de implantação de produção enxuta
Marodin, G. A. (2013) · Americanae (AECID Library)
König, M., & Rönnqvist, H. (2010) · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Les défis du Lean à l’ère de la mondialisation et de l’industrie 4.0.
Vinardi, C. (2019) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/8919274az111bz48e8zbe63z78958f2c6bce
Tran, T.-A., Ruppert, T., Eigner, G., & Abonyi, J. (2026) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0347030
The evolution of lean: taking stock and looking ahead
Netland, T. H., Januszek, S., Shah, R., & Pilkington, A. (2026) · Foundations and Trends® in Technology Information and Operations Management · doi:10.1108/fttom-11-2024-0121
Integrated assessment of stresses and strains in manual assembly
Gorsek, D., Ha, T. K., Prinz, C., & Kuhlenkötter, B. (2026) · Production Engineering · doi:10.1007/s11740-026-01452-4
An E-VSM analysis of the Bangladesh textile industry: Implications for sustainable development
Oyon, A. T., Karmakar, A., Kibria, M. G., Hossain, M. A. S., & Kamruzzaman, M. (2026) · Sustainable Futures · doi:10.1016/j.sftr.2026.101947
A conceptual typology for social lean and social sustainability integration
Ljubi, K., & Jakšič, M. (2026) · International Journal of Lean Six Sigma · doi:10.1108/ijlss-02-2026-0098
Zaidi, A., & Lakhal, L. (2026) · International Journal of Lean Six Sigma · doi:10.1108/ijlss-02-2025-0040
Boutayeb, A., Bakkali, A., Chamat, A., Daya, A., & Ennadi, A. (2026) · Benchmarking An International Journal · doi:10.1108/bij-07-2025-0661
Metadata
- Authors
- Conti, R., Angelis, J., Cooper, C., Faragher, B., & Gill, C.
- Affiliations
- Bryant University (US)
- University of Warwick (GB)
- Lancaster University (GB)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Venue
- International Journal of Operations & Production Management
- Publisher
- Emerald
- Published
- 2006-09-01
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1013-1038
- ISSN
- 0144-3577 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2030474117
- Cited by
- 336
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 23
- FWCI
- 13.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Operations & Production Management (publishedVersion)
- Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (submittedVersion)
- Cambridge University Engineering Department Publications Database (submittedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Management Information Systems › Quality and Supply Management
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Workplace Health and Well-being
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Safety Management
- Keywords
- lean manufacturing, occupational stress, job demands, job control, social support, lean implementation, working conditions
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review