Lean Manufacturing

Lean manufacturing is a process which aims to manufacture products of highest quality at lowest cost within shortest lead time. Lean manufacturing focuses on efficiency by eliminating waste.

Wastes are of seven types:

Steps involved in implementing lean:

There are five steps involved in implementing lean manufacturing. These are also known as principles of lean.

Identify what creates value from customer’s point of view.
Identify all the steps to go through in the process to create value.
Create a smooth flow of processes.
Ensure that only that is pulled (demanded) by customer are made.
Seek perfection by continuously improving.

Benefits of implementing lean manufacturing:

Improved quality.
Reduced costs due to:
1. Reduced amount of floor space required to store inventory.
2. Reduction in defective products
3. Reduced investment in inventories
Reduced lead time.
Increase in productivity due to elimination of un-necessary motion.
Improvement of image of the company due to delivery of quality product.
Improvement in overall performance of the company.