About Lean
Lean goals are to eliminate waste, shorten cycle times, improve quality, reduce cost and manage inventory effectively. Characteristics of an operation with no waste are: products produced only in response to customer demand, immediate response to a customer’s need, zero defects, zero inventory and instant delivery to the customer. Long cycle times indicate processes with significant waste. Improving quality starts with understanding the customer’s requirements and developing metrics to accurately reflect how well it meets those requirements. Waste, cycle time, and quality issues all contribute to cost while Lean and Six Sigma data can help assess actual costs. Managing inventory eliminates unnecessary WIP.
The fundamental principles of ‘Lean’ thinking state that the workplace must be safe, orderly and clean. Products are built just-in-time. Six Sigma quality is built into the product and the process. There is a relentless pursuit of perfections — continuously improving process performance. A key objective is to eliminate non-value added activities.
Lean principles apply to product development, order taking and scheduling, manufacturing, logistics, administrative activities and human resources.