Purpose: The objective of this research was to know the results of the adoption of lean manufacturing in companies in Lima, which were reported in theses for university degrees.   Theoretical framework: The adoption of lean manufacturing is challenging and complex and requires specialized process management due to the various barriers and drivers to adoption.    Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted using an exploratory and descriptive methodology that consisted of reviewing university theses related to lean manufacturing. Subsequently, companies were identified and contacted by telephone, applying questionnaires with direct questions about adoption results.   Findings: The results were obtained from the review and comparison of university repositories, SUNAT (Superintendencia de administración tributaria) and telephone calls. Descriptive analyses were performed to evaluate the results, which provided insight into the application of the methodology.   Research, Practical & Social implications:  It is suggested for future research to explore the adoptions of lean manufacturing proposed in articles of indexed journals to learn about their experiences and adapt them to the national reality.   Originality/value: The results indicate that most of the university theses reviewed only propose the adoption of lean manufacturing and have not been implemented due to the complexity and sustainability of the methodology.