Lean Manufacturing Topic of the Day: Definition of Lean Manufacturing

Hi Folks,

How do you define Lean Manufacturing? Our definition of Lean manufacturing can be kind of long and drawn-out, but we like to boil things down and state them simply and clearly. You might say, when it comes right down to it, we have a fairly “Lean” way of defining Lean Manufacturing.

Lean Manufacturing: Is a system / approach to eliminating waste and enabling continuous improvement.

That is a Lean way of saying it for sure. No, it doesn’t capture all the nuances of Lean Manufacturing, or the Lean tools and principles etc. But in a Lean way and without any elaboration, this simple definition of Lean Manufacturing satisfies a few of the most essential components of what Lean Manufacturing really is.

1. A System / Approach – Not just a set of tools you throw at your problems, but an overriding strategy and philosophy guided by principles.

2. Eliminating Waste – Perhaps the greatest emphasis in Lean Manufacturing is the elimination of waste in all it’s infinite forms. The elimination of waste in Lean Manufacturing is truly the “mother” of…

3. Continuous Improvement – Which constantly challenges the status quo and asks the question: “Is there a better way?”

Of course there is much more to say about our Lean Manufacturing Definition and how the many components come together, but let’s just keep our focus on what matters most for today, and define Lean Manufacturing in Lean terms.

How do you boil it all down and define Lean Manufacturing?

All the Best,

Bill