Academic literature on Lean Manufacturing (LM) is widely available. However, due to its fragmentation, the contribution of LM from academic and practical perspectives is controversial. This paper establishes the practical implications of LM studies carried out worldwide and identifies novel research streams. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of peer reviewed journal articles was conducted. A total of 212 articles published in 52 journals during 2005-2016 were collected from four major management science publishers. An "affinity diagram" was applied to organize the data into natural and logical themes. Conceptual frameworks with regard to LM practical implications and future research direction were formulated. The results revealed the "vital few" academic journals which have published the majority of the LM articles. Meaningful themes of LM practical implications and future research suggestions were revealed and classified into two categories. In category one, themes related to the pre-implementation, implementation and post-implementation phases of LM were identified. In category two, themes related to the country in which the companies operated, the diverse managerial systems available, and the methodological research approach were identified. Main themes supported in the literature by most references were determined. Finally, respective statements of practical implications and future research were also analytically presented.