The evolution of production models: is a new paradigm emerging?

The evolution of production models raises a number of questions on the changes which are taking place, on the continuity of or break with consolidated models, and on whether new production paradigms are emerging. Traces back this broad and multi‐faceted debate to five theses which summarise the principal interpretative approaches: the emergence of lean production as the dominant model; the indeterminacy of production models and the unpredictability of their evolution; the existence of a number of different models which are strongly dependent on context; the asymptotic convergence over time of different models on a single point of reference which is not lean production, while the latter will decline or be revised; and the emergence of a new unifying paradigm which leaves room for and even requires specific variations and adaptations. Reassesses these positions in the light of the life‐cycle of management models and in support of the fifth thesis, i.e. the emergence of a new paradigm. Among the different possible formulations of the new paradigm, that termed “strategically flexible production” is presented.