Workplace improvement through lean management plus – 5S: an empirical study on operational and social gains in a Moroccan SME

Purpose This study explores the application of the Lean Management Plus – 5S (LMP-5S) approach in a Moroccan SME. It evaluates its impact on workplace improvement by balancing operational efficiency with employee well-being, and positions LMP-5S as a benchmarking methodology that connects operational and social performance. Design/methodology/approach Over nine months, a participatory action research design combined employee involvement, Gemba observations, semi-structured interviews and performance analysis. Workplace outcomes were assessed through the Overall Equipment Effectiveness Plus (OEEP) indicator and the QCDESE framework (Quality, Cost, Delivery, Ergonomics, Safety, Environment), enabling internal before/after benchmarking against firm targets and external benchmarking against industry-specific and international benchmarks. Findings LMP-5S yielded a 31% increase in production capacity, an 80% reduction in search time and a 90% decrease in workplace risks, while OEEP improved from 17% to 85.3%. These results align with global Lean benchmarks, demonstrating that LMP-5S enables SMEs to achieve internationally comparable performance. Research limitations/implications Evidence comes from a single Moroccan manufacturing SME, which may constrain the generalisability of results. Long-term LMP-5S effects were not examined, constraining external validity. Practical implications The integrated QCDESE + OEEP dashboard provides SME managers with a shop-floor-ready measurement and audit routine to steer continuous improvement across operational and socio-ergonomic dimensions. Originality/value The paper formalises QCDESE and OEEP as an integrated performance measurement framework, extending widely used models such as the Balanced Scorecard and SCOR by embedding ergonomic, safety, and environ-mental dimensions. It positions LMP-5S as a replicable and sustainable performance model for SMEs, offering a transferable pathway toward continuous improvement and operational excellence.