Lean Manufacturing Delivers Value with Less Work by Eliminating Waste

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Lean Manufacturing
Lean manufacturing is an exercise that is based on waste minimization. It considers the utilization of resources for any activity other than the creating value for the customer, as waste. Basically, lean is centered on “Delivering value with less work by eliminating waste” (Liker, 1997). Lean manufacturing philosophy involves never ending efforts to reduce or eliminate 'muda' (Waste) in manufacturing processes.

Just in Time Management
Just in Time (JIT) is a production philosophy that attempts to improve business profit by reducing the inventory and inventory carrying costs. To meet this objective, the process relies on signals or ‘Kanban’ between different points. These signals tell production when to make the next part. For example if an inventory of a material finishes, the JIT system sends a pop up to the e-procurement team to procure additional material for production. This pop-up on the screen of e-procurement team is a Kanban. When implemented correctly, JIT focuses on continuous improvement and can improve a manufacturing organization's process quality and efficiency. JIT Management system is an outcome of enabling Lean manufacturing systems in your organization (Womack, 2007).
Both the terms of Lean manufacturing and Just in Time management have come from the Toyota Production System. Therefore the organization reference that will be used to define these two philosophies will be Toyota.
Wastes or Muda
According to Toyota, following wastes account for 95 % of all costs (Abdulmalek, 2007): -
Overproduction – Producing more than the customer demands. Anything produced beyond what customer needs occupies valuable resources as well as time that can be utilized in delivering to other customer needs that ha...

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...of lean systems in an organization also depends upon implementing the same at the supplier location as well. Suppliers of Toyota found it hard to plan and schedule according to the requirements but the affects were greatly diminished because of no exposure to similar situations earlier.
Conclusion
Lean Manufacturing as a practice is increasingly being used by organizations worldwide. Toyota motors has set the benchmark by implementing lean processes and showing some fabulous results to support the lean philosophy. Organizations that have implemented Lean manufacturing have become more responsive to the dynamic trends of the industry. They have been able to adapt faster and deliver customer value in a short span of time thereby achieving client satisfaction and recommendations. This has led to increasing profitability and growth in productivity and continues to be so.

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