Lean manufacturing or lean production, often simply referred to as “lean”, is a production philosophy that focuses on the idea that the expending of resources on anything aside from something that creates direct value for the customer should be considered wasteful, and therefore should be eliminated.
- Lean can be used in engineering, in the design, application, and troubleshooting on production lines.
- Logistics and manufacturing quality control, which covers both the physical distribution and the processing of all data related to different kinds and amounts of goods and materials.
- Lean can also be used in the management of people, which can help you keep track of the size, responsibilities and communication between departments in production and support, to oversee daily operations, react to emergencies, and improve basic services.
- Lean is also used in metrics and accountability, determining how to measure results and how these measurements are utilized in the business.
Lean within the management process is the process of planning and controlling the organization and leading the implementation within a business or any other type of activity.
It’s is a method of organizing work within a business, a concept that was originally borne out of manufacturing processes from Japan.
This management philosophy originated from the Toyota Production System (TPS) and was only given its name in the 1990s. TPS is well known for its emphasis on reduction to expand overall consumer value, but there are different ways in how this is best accomplished.
Toyota steadily grew from a small company to the world’s largest automaker, and this lean manufacturing strategy is attributable to its success.
Some common accomplishments and goals of lean management include:
- Improving the quality of products and the morale and efficiency of the workforce while assuring customer satisfaction. To stay competitive in today’s marketplace, a company must comprehend its customers’ needs and wants and design processes to meet their expectations and necessities.
- Eradicate waste and inefficiencies, due to the fact that they constitute any activity that wastes time, resources, or space but does not add any value to the overall finished product or service.
Utilizing lean philosophies in the workplace is one of the most effective ways to not only encourage your employees to be time-effective, but is one of the simplest and productive ways to successfully run a company.