Many people look at the corrections and belt-tightening exercises they’ve performed to reduce expenses and declare,”We’re already lean! How can we get any leaner?”
The philosophy of Lean Manufacturing, of course, goes far beyond cost reduction, but is grounded upon the elimination of waste. There are numerous variations of Lean
Manufacturing, but most share some basic tenets:
1. Specify value from the Customer’s point of view
2. Identify Value Streams
3. Make value flow
4. Pull value through the system
5. Pursue perfection
Womack & Jones,two of the world-renowned authorities on Lean Manufacturing, advocate a five step approach to Lean Thinking. Their steps are as follows:
1. Find a change agent
2. Find a sensei (a teacher)
3. Seize or create a crisis
4. Map your value streams
5. Pick something and get started
Step number three is upon us, so there’s no time like the present. Now is the time to seize the opportunity to push through the current pain, and give birth to a new, integrated
approach to transforming the entire business.
Today’s Quote:-
Improvement usually means doing something that we have never done before. ~Shigeo Shingo
