The effect of lean tool use and work conditions on employee health : a longitudinal multilevel study

• Objectives: Although lean production is an increasingly common approach to increase the efficiency of organisations, its effect on employee health is not clear. This longitudinal study investigates the effect of lean tool use and work conditions on work-related flow. Flow is a measure of health that reflects the experience of intrinsic motivation, absorption and work enjoyment.Methods: A questionnaire was sent to employees in seven organisations on two occasions with an interval of two years (n =1722). Multilevel linear regression analyses were used in order to investigate the association between the use of lean tools (i.e. standardisation, value stream mapping, visual monitoring, housekeeping and resource reduction), decision latitude, social capital, and innovative learning climate at baseline, and work-related flow at follow-up.Results: In multivariate analyses, adjusted for flow at baseline, use of lean tools was positively associated with work-related flow at follow-up. When the tools were investigated separately, only value stream mapping remained significant after adjustment for work conditions and flow at baseline. Social capital and decision latitude were positively associated with flow at follow-up. Flow at baseline and follow-up were strongly associated.Conclusions: The extent to which lean tool use has an effect on employee health depends on which tools are used. Work conditions that support learning, such as decision latitude and social capital, are associated with a longitudinal increase in the experience of work-related flow, and are important for gaining health-promoting benefits from the use of lean tools.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap -- Lärande (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences -- Learning (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Arbetslivsstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Work Sciences (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Work-related flow

job resources

psychosocial work conditions

control

learning

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)