Analysing the barriers of lean in Indian coal mining industry using integrated ISM-MICMAC and SEM

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a model for key barriers to lean implementation in the Indian coal mining industry. Design/methodology/approach Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) has been used to develop a proper hierarchy and contextual relationship of key barriers to lean implementation in the Indian coal mining industry through literature review and expert opinion which is followed by the classification of barriers using Matrice d' Impacts Croises-Multiplication Appliquee a un Classement (MICMAC) and questionnaire-based survey to validate the ISM model using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings In this study, 14 key barriers to lean implementation in the Indian coal mining industry have been identified, modeled and analyzed. The lack of top management commitment, financial constraints and lack of inter-departments co-ordination are found to be the most important barriers to lean implementation in the mining industry. The ISM-based model is validated using the SEM. Research limitations/implications The analysis of data represents that relatively more participants were from the mines located in eastern India and the maximum participants were managers and executives holding different levels (lower, middle or upper), although key participants in different mines were encouraged to distribute the survey to other employees also. Practical implications This model on lean barriers would help the decision makers, researchers and practitioners to anticipate potential barriers to lean implementation and support the existing academic research on lean. Accordingly, the focus on the lean barriers can be prioritized for the better utilization of the available resources for eliminating or minimizing the barriers. Originality/value This paper is an original contribution of analysis of the lean barriers in Indian mining industry using the integrated ISM-MICMAC and SEM approach.