Crises and risks posed by lean management practices in the aviation industry

The lean management approach has the basic philosophy of eliminating activities that do not provide added-value, constantly improving processes and minimizing waste. Lean management is preferred by many organizations to compete in the global network. On the other hand, in addition to its positive effects worldwide, it should also be taken into consideration that the lean management approach may create some negative effects and crisis-risk situations. In this context, the aim of the thesis is to identify possible crises and risks that encountered in lean management practices in the aviation industry. The research method of the thesis is purposive sampling which is a type of non-probability sampling method among qualitative research methods. Within the scope of the research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 managers in the aviation industry and the current crises and risks were evaluated in lean management practices. According to the data analysis results of the research, findings in this thesis support the main argument such that the lean management practices, which are thought to have a positive effect on businesses, can also have negative effects. As a result of the research, findings show that excessive workload on the personnel, negative situations caused by the senior management's lack of determination and continuity in lean management practices, and incorrect practices can lead to customer dissatisfaction or loss. The results of the study can be a guide in making accurate analyzes on creating awareness by increasing the commitment of employees to implement the lean management process of companies.