Assessing Lean and Human-Centric practices in the fashion industry: a multiple-case study

This paper investigates the integration of the Lean manufacturing and Human-Centric (HC) concepts in the fashion industry through a multiple case study using a custom-developed assessment model. Ten companies were evaluated across three dimensions—Awareness, Implementation, and Effectiveness— in both Lean and HC domains. Our findings reveal varying maturity levels between companies, with some standing out in a positive way ahead of the rest due to dedicated Lean teams and supportive corporate cultures. However, other companies struggle due to e.g. limited resources and high resistance to change. The proposed assessment model provides a practical tool for measuring current practices, and highlight how organizational structure, targeted strategies, capabilities and practices can enhance Lean-HC.