The relationship between organizational culture and lean manufacturing in manufacturing SMEs in Vietnam: Exploring the moderating role of sustainable leadership

This study investigates the role of organizational culture (OC) and sustainable leadership (SL) in fostering the implementation of lean manufacturing (LMI) and achieving sustainable performance (SP) in manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Employing a random survey of 343 leaders in manufacturing SMEs, the study analyzes the data using Smart PLS 4 software. The findings reveal that: (a) OC and LMI positively influence SP; (b) LMI mediates the relationship between OC and SP; and (c) SL significantly enhances the effect of OC on LMI. This research provides robust empirical evidence on the mechanisms driving sustainable performance, offering valuable insights for both academics and practitioners seeking to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability in manufacturing SMEs.