Lean manufacturing will help you to take a serious look at visible causes and effects in your business.
Aspects that could get some attention could include things like:
- inventory
- movement/motion
- waiting or queues
- broken equipment, machines or tools (missing)
- unorganized mess, dirt and clutter
- … and many others
Things that we can see that are obvious waste or inefficiencies attract attention and demand action.
This is where lean manufacturing steps in and makes a difference. It deals with the problems that we can actually SEE and do something about.
True to its Japanese origin there are lots of ‘legacy’ terminology here, one of which is MOST appropriate as we start this discussion on lean tools and the implications for your business: It is referred to as MUDA, essentially meaning WASTE.
In any process and business there are EIGHT forms of MUDA/WASTE present:
- Wasted human potential (The 8th Waste)
- DEFECTIVE products or flawed services(mistakes)
- Making too much of something (overproduction)
- Inventory
- Unecessary processing (non-value added steps)
- Unnecessary movement of people (Motion)
- Unnecessary movement of things (Transportation)
- Waiting or queuing
When you focus on any improvements for production and profit you will have to pay attention to the saying ‘time is money’ and ‘quality matters’. These two principles and fundamental pillars for lean manufacturing and Six Sigma will reward you greatly if considered in all aspects and areas of your business.
