This research paper provides an initial exploration of the factors influencing whether lower tier suppliers gain a competitive advantage through their implementation of Lean manufacturing, and highlights the implications for the aerospace industry and for the SMEs. The research findings indicated that the SMEs regarded Lean as a necessity to meet the growing demands of their customers and to remain profitable in an increasingly competitive environment. The study concludes that while Lean

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... ives have lead to numerous benefits for the SMEs, the assumption can not be made that Lean initiatives directly provide sustainable competitive advantage, as this is dependent on a number of complex and interdependent issues.