**4. Conclusion**

Having realized the potential of Kaizen and Lean, even big consulting organizations have dedicated many writing in presenting and exploring the methodologies. Consulting companies are organizations that provide professional services in other companies in the fields of marketing, financing, ICT, logistics, business plans etc. Some of the biggest consulting companies worldwide are: Deloitte, McKinsey, EY, Boston consulting company.

For example Deloitte has attempted to connect Lean with Industry 4.0\* and has presented many other cases of lean implementation in several fields. Some links of relevant articles follow:

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/industry-4-0/digital-leanmanufacturing.html

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/blog/human-capital-blog/2020/leanstrategic-planning-design-thinking-agile-what-does-it-all-mean-in-becomingexponential-hr.html

https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/ca/Documents/life-scienceshealth-care/ca-en-life-sciences-health-care-lean-in-health-care.pdf.

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/industry-4-0/digital-leanmanufacturing.html.

\* Industry 4.0 is the concept of creating a digital enterprise by establishing digital technologies and integrates them with advanced production and operation techniques.

McKinsey, also a big consulting organization, has presented some analytical guides and presentation of the methodologies. Many of them are evident in financial institutions and the links of some follow:

https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/ the-work-of-leaders-in-a-lean-management-enterprise

*Lean and Kaizen: The Past and the Future of the Methodologies DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96169*

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/consumer%20packaged%20goods/our%20insights/the%20consumer%20sector%20in%202030%20 trends%20and%20questions%20to%20consider/2014\_lean\_management\_enterprise\_compendium.pdf

https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/dotcom/client\_service/financial%20services/latest%20thinking/reports/lean\_management\_new\_frontiers\_for\_ financial\_institutions.pdf

https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/operations/our-insights/ next-frontiers-for-lean

Digital lean

Digital lean is an example of the integration of digital technologies and lean principles It utilizes lean theory to decrease the waste in digital technology actions and processes.

Digital lean uses Industry 4.0 and other digital tools to create the appropriate information for all operations and processes. As data come in a high frequency way, it can be managed and directed in the appropriate resources.

Digital lean can be a valuable asset and some of its achievements are: reduced costs, improved quality and higher return on investment, compared with any other methodology that is implemented individually.

Lean Industry 4.0

A new concept deriving from the combination of lean and Industry 4.0 is presented.

The main scope of lean is to reduce waste in the value chain, focusing on client's value and strengthening the role of the employees in all this process [3].

On the other hand, the basis of Industry 4.0 is the ability to quickly collect, process, analyze and exchange large data sets between machines. Thanks to modern technologies such as: Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) or Internet of Things (IoT), it is possible to react faster and more flexibly to existing problems, but also to more efficient value creation processes, while reducing costs [49].

A suggested solution is the combination of the above concepts, in order to solve the problems that modern production faces. Despite, the significant differences, between the two concepts, they seem to have the same goal, to increase added value [50].

#### **4.1 The present and future of the methodologies**

Lean can provide solution in many fields and it is evident that even service companies embrace and appreciate it [51]. Lean reached functions that previously seemed quite difficult to transform. (management principles once known as lean manufacturing [52].

The new concept of lean management, which introduces the values of lean in the modern management, has been adopted by many organizations. It provides a roadmap that holds the organization (and the workflow) stable and able to solve all of the derived problems. The primary winner of these efforts is the customer and then consequently the organization.

Lean seems not to be a static methodology. It is still developing and could be a valuable solution for many enterprises [53]. Lean can be fitted in the rapid changing world, which seems to be even more intense after the COVID-19 crisis. The Toyota lean business system has managed to deliver: better quality, productivity, customer focus, innovation, employee engagement, profitability and even environmental sustainability [54]. Organizations should concentrate on involving all employees in the continuous improvement organizing appropriately the value stream and offer

the ideal products and services for the customers. Money and profit should not be their main incentives, as customers have improved demands and there is intense competition.

Questions that challenge current entrepreneurship could be, how well large, modern organizations work as almost as old as management [52]. Problems that could affect organizations are: slower growth, debt burdens, aging workforces, mismatches between worker skills and available jobs.

There are successful organizations that attain a state of continuous improvement. Their performance is consistent in the short and long run. However, it is not always effective for every organization to imitate best practices.

Hence, lean management system [13] could be in the forefront of the management field, in order to provide valuable solutions. Its main aspect, which is to improve material flows, could be a valuable asset.

Lean can contribute in the appropriate integration of the technology field in the organizations, as it can provide valuable information with the customers' feedback [54].

The lean system could assist information management system to solve their information flow problems. If the information provided is the essential and appropriate, the information system could be benefited and improve its performance.

The information gathered with many ways and directed appropriately, could be an instrument to link this information with direct customer needs and inform the relevant departments in an organization.

From all the cases and the thoughts about Lean reported in this study, it is evident, that it is a philosophy that can be an asset in the management field and the question is if the organizations could make the right choices and be benefit from its positive aspects.
