An assessment of adopting lean techniques in the construct of hotel supply chain

Abstract

This paper assesses the adoption of lean techniques across the supply chains of hotels. Literature indicates a growing awareness of sustainability issues and lean adoption for value creation in the hospitality industry.However, there are limited exploratory studies that outline sustainability in terms of lean techniques in the context of a hotel supply chain. This paper addresses this gap using a structured study plan with specific research questions. To this end, a theoretical framework of lean assessment for value creation is first developed and a SIPOC-based construct of a hotel supply chain is used to identify and categorize hotel waste. An empirical study is then conducted to answer research questions and assess the extent of using lean techniques. Study results and the developed framework can be subsequently used by practitioners and researchers in conceptualization and assessment of lean adoption across the supply chains of hotels in different contexts