Lean production in family farming: application of its principles in the production of vegetables

Purpose The losses of vegetables in the world are significant and are distributed throughout the production chain. In the face of this problem, the purpose of this study is to applied the principles of the Lean Production to reduce waste in the production process on a family farm. Design/methodology/approach A case study was conducted on a family farm producing organic vegetables, with the focus of study being on lettuce. Data collection procedures involved interviews, observations and filming of the lettuce production process. The instruments used to identify the sources of waste were the value flow mapping, vertical flowchart, Ishikawa diagram, consumer voice and spaghetti diagram. Findings The main sources of waste observed were the movement in the planting stage and excess processing in the fertilization stage (excess fertilization). Improvements such as adaptation and even exclusion of activities related to the production process and organization of the site were carried out and contributed to a 45% reduction in the time of the activities cycle that did not add value but which were necessary. Practical implications The study here presented came to innovate and contribute to the reduction of waste related to agriculture since the lean production principles were applied to reduce waste in the productive process of lettuce in a family farm. The positive results of the application of lean production prove to be replicable to other properties and cultures, given that the conduction took place in a structured way in the five lean principles and their tools. It is up to the guidance and dissemination of this knowledge to producers. Social implications The study here presented can estimate that lean principles, when applied in agriculture, can contribute to the sustainability of food production systems. Originality/value Lean Production is a model developed for application in industrial sectors, and its application in agriculture is incipient in the international literature. This paper contributes to reducing waste in a sector that has significant loss rates by adapting the lean production model to agriculture.