Lean is a proven methodology for eliminating wasted effort and recovering lost revenue in your production process. It uses a systematic approach, together with analytical tools, to identify opportunities to streamline your workflow and deliver better value.
Lean is steeped in the philosophy of the complete elimination of all waste, while pursuing the most efficient production method. Waste can take a variety forms, including:
- Overproduction or processing to needlessly high standards
- Excess inventory
- Unnecessary transportation of the product
- Needless worker motion
- Repeated inspection
- Rework and repair
- Waiting and storage
Maximize value, minimize waste
Lean seeks to identify those steps in a process that add value: they change the form, fit or function of the product. Then it seeks to eliminate or minimize those steps that don’t add value (such as carrying the product from place to place, or checking it repeatedly for errors).
| Typical causes of waste... | and the Lean solution |
|---|---|
|
Batch processing creates workload surges that keep staffing requirements needlessly high |
Switching to single-piece flow to create a steadier stream of work at a less stressful pace |
|
Work path designed around the equipment layout, rather than the other way around |
Rearranging the equipment to fit the actual flow of work |
|
Decentralized approach to inventory management leads to constant shortages and overstocks |
A formal inventory management process with first-in-first-out consumption, centralized storage and fixed reorder points |
|
Each day begins with a wasteful round of “Where did the last shift leave my tools?” |
Agreeing on an optimal place to store each item and marking it off with colored tape |
Learn more about the Valumetrix® Lean consulting process
