What is Lean Production or Lean Manufacturing?
Lean production or Lean Manufacturing is a management philosophy focusing on reduction of the seven wastes. • Over-production • Processing • Transportation • Waiting time • Inventory • Motion • Scrap in manufactured products or any type of business. By eliminating waste (muda *), quality is improved, production time and costs are reduced.To solve the problem of waste, Lean Manufacturing has several “tools” at its disposal. These include constant process analysis (kaizen), “pull” production (by means of kanban) and mistake-proofing (poka-yoke). Question on Types of waste Toyota defined seven categories or types of waste. • Overproduction (making more than what is needed, or making it earlier than needed) • Transportation (moving products farther than is minimally required) • Waiting (products waiting on the next production step, or people waiting for work to do) • Inventory (having more inventory than is minimally required) • Motion (people moving or walking more than minimally required
