If you’re reading this then you obviously want to know more about Lean and lean ways of working. The information on this page should help.
An introduction to lean
‘Lean’ comes from the principle that it’s possible to achieve more, but with less resource (whether that’s time, facilities, effort, money or physical resources). Lean production methods use less of everything; it’s about maximising value and reducing waste.
At the heart of Lean is the idea that only a small fraction of the total time and effort involved in producing a product or delivering a service is actually adding value to the customer. Since lean processes define value from a customer’s perspective, any non-value-adding activities (waste) can be identified and removed through a process of continuous improvement.
The term ‘lean’ (or lean production) comes from a production system that was developed by Toyota after World War II (although Henry Ford, W. Edwards Deming and others also have links with lean). Other terms that you might also hear or see include ‘lean manufacturing’, ‘lean enterprise’, ‘lean leadership’ and ‘lean thinking’.
What are the benefits of lean?
Although lean principles came from a car manufacturing environment, they can be applied to any organisation in any sector, anywhere in the world.
In today’s competitive world, it’s more important than ever to strive for organisational excellence through increasing efficiency, reducing costs, maximising profits, improving customer satisfaction (and retention rates) and identifying areas for improvement. Lean approaches to working can help you to achieve these, and more.
When can I start using lean?
You can start working in a lean way at any time – our consultancy services and lean enterprise system can help.
If you have any more questions about lean or how it could benefit your business, please feel free to contact us.