What Is Lean?

Operating with the absolute minimum amount of resources (material, machines, and manpower) required to add value to the product or service.

 

Key Objective is Speed (Time Reduction) pulled by customer demand.

The whole idea of lean is to minimize waste and maximize customer value. There is no industrial standard in executing a lean project but we can use a DMAIC approach or use the approach below*:

Specify Value

Understand value from the viewpoint of the customer.

Map the Value Stream

Understand the current process which deliver the service or product to the customer.

Create Flow

Identify and eliminate or minimize any wastes identified. Allocate the value adding steps close to each other so that service or product can flow continuously without obstacle.

Establish Pull

Allow customer to pull from the improved process.

Seek Perfection

Start from step 1 again until one reach a state of perfection in which perfect value is created for the customer without waste.

 

* LEAN THINKING, SECOND EDITION, by James P. Womack and Daniel T. Jones