Effect of Lean Implementation on Material Management in the Indian Auto Component Manufacturing Companies: Its Past, Present, and Future

ABSTRACT The Indian auto component manufacturing sector has, in recent years, seen considerable change, largely through implementing lean strategies. It's a sign that the industry broadly understands that optimizing productivity and waste reduction is crucial, given the intense market competition. Lean principles, which emphasize continuous improvement and enhanced efficiency, have reshaped manufacturing operations, especially in material management. Material management has changed a lot over time, influenced by bigger trends in manufacturing and how efficient industries are. More than any other industrial activity, lean tools are apt for material management. This paper is a summary of all research carried out so far in the field of applying lean tools for material management, particularly in the auto‐component manufacturing sector, which plays a vital role in the rapidly rising Indian automobile manufacturing industry. The findings indicate that, although appreciable progress has been made so far, a lot more research is required. Many barriers are still to be overcome. This study also pinpoints the future direction of research in this field.