Key Principles of Lean Manufacturing
Lean manufacturing is a tactic often employed in the manufacturing industry. The goal of the method is to minimize waste while maintaining productivity. This is accomplished though continual process refinement. In a recent article from Manufacturing.net, Robert Logemann examines five key principles of lean manufacturing:
- Value – This principle refers to the need for manufacturers to know their product and how their customers value it. Companies should do research and establish internal parameters.
- Value Stream – Manufacturers should use the knowledge they develop about the value of their product(s) to inform their production process, seeking ways to eliminate inefficiency.
- Flow – A key are of lean production is eliminating or reducing bottlenecks within the production process, because they reduce efficiency across the board.
- Pull – Faster time-to-market not only means that customers aren’t left waiting, but also enables manufacturers to save on storage by producing, at least in part, on an as-needed basis.
- Perfection – When it comes to lean manufacturing, there is no final point at which an organization has “achieved” lean. Rather, it is an ongoing process and a powerful mindset of constantly seeking efficiency improvements.
For more details, read the article in full at Manufacturing.net.