ABSTRACT
Lean is the Westernization of a Japanese concept that has carried several names. Lean has developed into its own entity, and along with that it has developed its own award process, the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing. The Lean tool that is extremely valuable for bottleneck elimination is called Theory of Constraints or Theory of Constraints. The execution of the tasks should be performed using Lean tools. End to end, Lean is used to drive the information technology improvements that have enterprise-wide strategic impact. Lean tools and concepts will focus the organization on changing the “system” so that it is capable of adapting and flowing to changing customer needs. Value Stream Mapping is a waste identification tool that is used to identify Lean improvement opportunities by focusing on the non-value-added processes that get identified. The Lean culture remains in place, and facilitators are continuously called on to organize events around newly identified opportunities.
