lean manufacturing

 Lean manufacturing is a concept that was popularized by Toyota during the 1950s. While the core focus of Lean manufacturing is waste elimination, it also focuses on other aspects of operations to maximize output, minimize wastage and grow productivity.

The five core principles of lean manufacturing recognized by Womack and Zones are as follows:

Specify Value from the customers’ perspective: Define value from the perspective of the customers and specify it in terms of product. Analyze how a product meets the needs of the customers and at what price and at what time.

Map the value stream: Just like the value chain analysis. Analyze the value stream to find out the steps that add the most value, least value or no value and find the ones that can be eliminated to create cost savings.

Establish flow in each stage of the value stream: Arrange the value adding activities sequentially so that products move smoothly from one stage to the next.

Implement pull:

The fourth core principle of lean manufacturing is to produce at the pace of actual customer demand. It allows companies to respond to the actual customer demand rather than anticipate demand and produce in advance. Reduces inventory.

Aim for perfection: All the hard work will be wasted if you do not make improvements to business processes and equipment continuously.