Lean-safe operations for the aviation industry

The aviation industry continues to face significant competitive and cost reduction pressures while simultaneously striving to make the industry even safer than it currently is. Consequently, the industry is struggling to solve a very practical problem ¿ how to achieve the required operational efficiency improvements without compromising safety. This paper argues that the integration of safety, and in particular, human factors, with lean operations represents a potential solution to this dilemma, i.e. lean-safe operations. This paper begins by highlighting the rationale for such integration. It then proposes a Lean-Safe Aviation Enterprise Model, incorporating lean-safe principles and practices. In addition, the paper focuses on some key lean tools that can be used to achieve both efficiency and safety goals. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications of lean-safe operations both for the aviation industry and for other safety-critical industries.