Hungarian Quality Journal

Adaptation of lean management across industries – Comparative analysis of manufacturing and service sectors

Metadata

Author(s): Károlyi Henriett, Dunay Anna

DOI: https://doi.org/10.65513/MaMi.2025.10.18

Publisher: Nemzetközi Oktatási és Kutatási Központ Alapítvány

Volume: October 2025

Volume number: 34

Issue number: 10

Journal: Hungarian Quality Journal

ISSN (Print): ISSN 1416‑9576

ISSN (Online): ISSN 1789-5510

Pages: 18–32

Keywords: artifical intelligence, financial services, profitability, trust, agency system, digitális átalakulás, pénzügyi befogadás

Abstract

Lean management has become one of the most influential approaches to operational excellence, originating in manufacturing and progressively expanding into the service sector and other organizational contexts. In recent years, the growing emphasis on sustainability and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements has provided a new interpretative framework for lean practices. However, the literature still reveals substantial differences in how lean management is adapted and implemented across industries. The aim of this study is to identify industry-specific adaptation patterns of lean management through a systematic literature review, with particular attention to manufacturing and service sectors, and to examine the role of lean management in supporting sustainability and ESG objectives. The study follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and analyzes peer-reviewed publications retrieved from major international scientific databases. The reviewed literature is evaluated using thematic and industry-based categorization, enabling the identification of common patterns, differences, and critical success factors. The findings indicate that while the core principles of lean management are applicable across industries, their practical implementation is highly context-dependent. In manufacturing, lean is predominantly characterized by technical and process-oriented tools, whereas in the service sector and among small and medium-sized enterprises, organizational culture, human factors, and leadership commitment play a decisive role. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that lean management can provide an effective operational framework for achieving sustainability and ESG objectives, particularly in terms of resource efficiency, social performance, and responsible governance. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of lean management as an adaptive and context-sensitive management framework and highlights its potential role as an integrative mechanism linking economic performance with sustainable and responsible organizational practices.

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