Dear Colleagues,

Lean thinking is a fundamental mindset that arose from the Toyota company during World War II, under the name ‘Toyota Production System’. Contextualized by an environment of scarce resources and the low spirits of a society plagued by the consequences of war, this mindset allowed for transformational changes that helped recuperate losses from the war. Nowadays, society faces even more challenging times with the exacerbation of climate change, a global pandemic, several wars and overwhelming technological improvements provided by Industry 4.0 technologies, which can sometimes feel like living in a whirlwind where many people struggle to keep up with such technological advances. To overcome this, some initiatives were launched, such as Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0. These initiatives, if well-implemented, can lead to immensurable economic, social and sustainability benefits. However, it is fundamental to have the right mindset to successively drive these initiatives and societal transformations. For over seven decades, lean thinking principles have proven the capability of digital technology to provide societal growth, sustainable production and consumption, and physical and safety conditions for all stakeholders. It is also capable of promoting creativity, responsibility, resilience and critical thinking, preparing people for situations when digital technology malfunctions or disruptive events occur (e.g., pandemics, natural disasters and war).

Thus, lean thinking aligns well with the concepts of Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0. This alignment and synergy will provide a better world. In this context, the editors of this Special Issue are calling for submissions that report on case studies, action research, industry projects and literature reviews revealing the benefits of lean thinking principles and their integration in society. Lean thinking studies aligned with Society 5.0 and Industry 5.0 concepts that focus on various aspects of this topic are welcome (industry, healthcare, supply chain, services, higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, etc.).

Dr. Anabela Carvalho Alves
Dr. Maria Florentina Abreu
Dr. Carina Pimentel
Prof. Dr. João Carlos de Oliveira Matias
Guest Editors

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• lean thinking
• industry 5.0
• case studies
• action research
• literature reviews