"Are you a runner? Do you play basketball, football, or soccer? Like to hike or hit the gym? All of these activities require special shoes, and there are lots of different companies ready to sell you just the right pair. Nike, of course, and Adidas, but also New Balance, Fila, Saucony, Puma,...

Purpose: This paper describes the perceived effects of implementing lean production in a Swedish SME contract manufacturer. Especially focused are the effects on, and possible trade-offs between, cost-efficiency and flexibility. Design/methodology/approach: SME suppliers need basic capabilities...