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Lean manufacturing is a production process based on an ideology of maximising productivity while simultaneously minimising waste within a manufacturing operation. The lean principle sees waste is anything that doesn’t add value that the customers are willing to pay for.
Feb 4, 2021 · Learn how to implement lean manufacturing, a philosophy of continuous improvement and waste elimination in your organization. Explore the history, principles, wastes, benefits, and tools of lean manufacturing with examples and resources.
Lean Manufacturing is a management approach derived from the Toyota Production System, devised in Japan after World War II. It aims to maximize value for the customer by eliminating waste, meaning it seeks to optimize processes by using fewer resources and focusing on what is essential to meet customer demands. Definition and Significance.
Lean manufacturing is a method of manufacturing goods aimed primarily at reducing times within the production system as well as response times from suppliers and customers. It is closely related to another concept called just-in-time manufacturing (JIT manufacturing in short).
- Cable Manufacturing. A cable manufacturing company wanted to reduce set-up times and shorten lead time to market. A lean team found ways to streamline machine set-up and changeover requirements: a scheduling system was installed to enhance just-in-time manufacturing and upstream balance production of parts with downstream manufacturing and assembly.
- Truck Manufacturing. Dakota Bodies in South Dakota builds truck bodies for the service and industrial markets. To keep up with market demands, a lean team was established to work with company leaders to define their goals for the lean program.
- Printing Industry. A printing company was struggling with late orders and long lead times. Inventory piled up in its warehouse, with more than 10 percent of the finished product being thrown away.
- Automotive Parts Manufacturing. An automotive manufacturing company was losing production efficiency during shift changes—three shift changes per day averaged 30 minutes each.
Womack and Jones defined the five principles of Lean manufacturing in their book “The Machine That Changed the World”. The five principles are considered a recipe for improving workplace efficiency and include: 1) defining value, 2) mapping the value stream, 3) creating flow, 4) using a pull system, and 5) pursuing perfection.
Need to improve production? Learn the 25 most important types of lean tools and techniques to start using today.
