Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of practitioners’ generational differences on the development of a learning organization (LO) in companies undergoing a lean production (LP) implementation. Design/methodology/approach The authors gathered information from 135 leaders from different manufacturers that have been implementing LP and analyzed the data set through multivariate data techniques. Findings The results indicate the practitioners from Generations X, Y and Z contribute differently to LO capabilities even if their companies present similar maturities in terms of LP implementation. Originality/value Understanding how generational differences interact with LP implementation to allow an extensive development of an LO is fundamental for companies, as values, beliefs and working characteristics of the upcoming generations may significantly influence the effectiveness of current management approaches and firms’ competitiveness.

The bakery industry has great economic and social importance in the city of Medellin; most of the companies are small with high levels of informality, low value added and productivity. Lean Manufacturing has become one of the most popular paradigms of waste disposal in the industrial sector and services, with great benefits of their practice on the improvement of the quality and organizational productivity. This work evaluates the level of implementation of the lean manufacturing techniques in the micro and small enterprises in Medellin, in the food sector. It was using diagnostic and follow-up tools with questionnaire to the production chief, which include 9 techniques or tools, and a variable of administration that allow organizations to a guide, to improve the current conditions of productivity. The main results show that the outstanding Lean practices are: PokaYoke, Kaizen and visual factory. However, for which the sector is considered to be of world class, the practices must be strengthened: VSM (generation of value), JIT (Production Flow) and ADMON (Administration). In addition, organizations must increase sales least 139, 20% to increase the level of efficiency of the sector, without changing the number of employees.

The approach to the industry by students of Production Engineering is a key process for applying and going in depth in learned topics, be in contact with problems that cannot be experienced in a normal class, strengthen teamwork and leadership. In pursuit of these business experiences,

This document shows the results of a benchmarking study among different firms from the clothing industry that seeks to evaluate their degree of implementation in Lean Manufacturing during their respective productive processes. The study mainly targets firms that produce blue jeans, cotton shirts and t-shirts. Indeed, this industrial sector in the city of Medellin is highly developed and one of the most dynamic, thus the interest to perform an evaluation in this area. To achieve the benchmarking, a questionnaire was designed and applied to the different firms that were visited. The most significant result obtained was that Lean Manufacturing techniques were not prevalent within the general public. Only those companies with years in the business, exporters or foreign trademarks licensees, were knowledgeable of their application and development.