Lean provides both a business strategy and an implementation toolset. The Lean strategy is to reduce cycle time which will cause the fundamental problems to surface (waste) and to target them for elimination. The Lean tools help us to “see” the waste and provide methods to eliminate it. Ultimately, Lean gives us the ability to do things for our customers that our competitors cannot.
The key to understanding and implementing Lean practices is the concept of value. Lean thinking is focused on making every part of the process produce value for the end customer. The five principles of Lean thinking are;
- Correctly specify value from the standpoint of the customer
- Identify the value stream and eliminate the waste
- Make the remaining steps flow
- Let the customer pull just the value needed
- Pursue perfection
In business, a Lean initiative has four main goals;
- Improve quality
- Eliminate waste
- Reduce lead time
- Reduce total cost
Businesses are built on the ability to deliver a quality product in a timely manner at the lowest possible cost. Here is where Lean shows its power. Lean has a suite of tools that can transform your business and improve profitability. To learn more about how Process Driven Results Inc. can help improve the profitability and efficiency of your organization, please click here to contact us.