ABSTRACT
The United States has lost signifi cant manufacturing jobs. Currently, one-tenth of U.S. workers are employed in manufacturing organizations, which is down from one-third of U.S. workers 50 years ago. This decline stems from a rise in global competition. Companies must cut prices and therefore must fi nd a means for reducing costs to sustain a profi t. We need to improve productivity and quality to remain competitive in the global marketplace. The pressing need for increased productivity has driven U.S. industries to an increased awareness of Lean principles. There has been an enormous shift in the manufacturing, healthcare, and service industries with regards to improving processes to address these issues, thereby improving productivity.
