Executive Summery
The benefits of lean manufacturing are evident in factories across the world. With a view to achieve performance improvement both the developed and developing countries are practicing lean. In this study nine garment manufacturing companies were selected as sample. A field survey with a semi-structured questionnaire, interviews and site visits were conducted to get necessary lean information from the respondent. These companies were selected purposively to ensure the best possible scenario of lean practices in Bangladesh.
The focus of this study is to investigate the improvement of manufacturing performance through lean practice in the Bangladeshi garment industry. The findings indicate that the selected companies have adopted a wide variety of lean tools and techniques and gained many performance improvements. Findings also identified the business challenges that drive the companies to practice lean as well as the areas where changes have been made. It concludes with suggestions for further work.

Introduction
Today’s global supply chains are, in effect, highly complex networks. They are increasingly vulnerable to disruption which can have significant impact on profitability and shareholder value. Recent research at Cranfield School of Management has highlighted where the sources of risk in supply chains might lie and how that risk might be mitigated and managed by the application of ‘Six Sigma’ philosophies and procedures.

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As Supply Chain networks increase in complexity as a result of market volatility, outsourcing, globalization and single point sourcing, so too has the risk of disruption. Networks are becoming more vulnerable as supply chains become longer and leaner. Cost-reduction and efficiency are now key business goals and, as a result, networks become increasingly vulnerable to events that previously may have caused only