Lean Manufacturing: the Key to Streamlining Operations
Posted Apr 28, 2011 in Management
Lean Manufacturing is a management philosophy based on the successful production system developed nearly 60 years ago by the Toyota Motor Corp. The concept gained popularity in the early '80s, when struggling U.S. businesses practicing traditional manufacturing methods began looking for ways to improve their operations to compete in a rapidly changing global marketplace.
Although Lean Manufacturing is a wide-ranging philosophy built around five interrelated principles, it boils down to taking a comprehensive look at your processes with the goal being to reduce waste, improve workflow and enhance product value. When Whip Mix Corp. implemented Lean principles into its facility, the result was a tremendous impact on operations, including a 35.5% reduction in inventory costs; 60% increase in productivity (based on sales per person); and 187% increase in on-time delivery.
The company's management team soon realized that the Lean principles could...
