Abstract
The scarce presence of studies on the role of Digital Lean on the
social dimension of sustainability calls for the need to conduct further studies
and research to better understand how the integration of the aspects belonging to
the Lean Management and Industry 4.0 fields can cope with the issue raised. Com-
bining the notions arising from a review of the scientific literature on the mentioned
topics with those resulting from a business case where a Digital Lean program has
been implemented, this article provides an analysis of the main effects regarding
the integration between the Lean paradigm and digital technologies from a social
perspective, assessed through job satisfaction determinants. The results, mapped
in an ad-hoc created reference model which merges the main characteristic dimen-
sions of Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, show that the adoption of digital
technologies promotes autonomy and upskilling process of operators, just as much
as it improves feedback, thus contributing to greater job satisfaction. Neverthe-
less, the research underlines that such benefits can be dampened whenever digital
wastes, high technology costs and a different sensitivity between management and
shopfloor operators occur, leading to a strong discouragement among personnel.
social dimension of sustainability calls for the need to conduct further studies
and research to better understand how the integration of the aspects belonging to
the Lean Management and Industry 4.0 fields can cope with the issue raised. Com-
bining the notions arising from a review of the scientific literature on the mentioned
topics with those resulting from a business case where a Digital Lean program has
been implemented, this article provides an analysis of the main effects regarding
the integration between the Lean paradigm and digital technologies from a social
perspective, assessed through job satisfaction determinants. The results, mapped
in an ad-hoc created reference model which merges the main characteristic dimen-
sions of Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0, show that the adoption of digital
technologies promotes autonomy and upskilling process of operators, just as much
as it improves feedback, thus contributing to greater job satisfaction. Neverthe-
less, the research underlines that such benefits can be dampened whenever digital
wastes, high technology costs and a different sensitivity between management and
shopfloor operators occur, leading to a strong discouragement among personnel.