Lean

 

What is Lean and the types of waste in Lean Manufacturing

What is Lean?

Lean is a set of management-related practices that help in improving the overall efficiency at the workplace. Lean works on the core principle of eliminating waste and removing any activity that does not add value to the organizational process. Lean philosophy is utilized by big manufacturing units, supply chains, or similar industry verticals. Each company uses different lean techniques that are applicable for their business type or operation, yet all of them have the same common goal that is to reduce and eliminate waste altogether. Lean principles can be learnt from any recognized institution that will make you understand everything about Lean and how to use lean tools for your company.

What is Lean Manufacturing?

Lean Manufacturing is referred to the system or type of techniques in production space and the activities they employ to eliminate waste in their lean production goal. Usually, organizations that use lean apply the concept to their entire base and even to the non-lean firms or supply chain. This is because if a lean company works with a firm that does not recognize lean, usually does not render much benefit from its lean principles. Companies that go lean understand the needs of their customers and focus to bring value to their customers.

Any lean organization will follow the below characterizations:

  •          To look into each and every problem or an error as an opportunity to smooth the process
  •          Should value the experience of the customer above everything else
  •          Should bring in problem-solving culture and have clear communication among every team member that in turn make employees feel valuable

There are certain fundamental principles within the lean philosophy and the three process value types are:

Steps that add Value:

  •          Follow the essential steps
  •          Changes in products and services
  •          Customers who are interested to pay for value-added service
  •          Activities should be done the right way at the first instance itself

Non-Value Adding Steps:

  •          This includes those non-essential steps
  •          Those products or services that do not meet the requirements of the customers
  •          When the customers are unwilling or not in a position to pay them
  •          When work is not done properly at the first instance itself

Steps that empower value:

  •         This includes the non-essential steps for the end customer
  •         Doing those tasks first and faster add value
  •         Those steps that do not add value and for which customers are not willing to pay

What are the types of waste in lean manufacturing?

Waste in Japanese is called Muda and is defined as the process that leads to unnecessary tasks due to certain errors, poor management, or miscommunication. A few quality professionals debate that there are eight lean principles and they discuss that elimination of the eighth one directly benefits the employees as well as the employer. The eight types of lean waste in lean manufacturing are known by the acronym DOWNTIME:

1.       Defects
2.       Overproduction
3.       Waiting
4.       Non-utilized talent
5.       Transportation
6.       Inventory
7.       Motion
8.       Extra-processing

To accomplish a lean organization, lean thinking alters the focus on the management from optimizing different technologies, departments, or assets to improve the product and service flow in the entire of the value streams. Learn Lean Mistake Proofing online and improve your lean skills.

 

 

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