ABSTRACT
In the mid-1980s, many companies in the Western Hemisphere began to adopt what was for them a new and different set of manufacturing principles. The environment that manufacturers in Japan found themselves in after World War II was understandably dramatically different from their western competitors. The essence of lean is: the relentless elimination of all waste; continuous improvement; and ensuring quality by sensing defects and stopping production until the causes are found and corrected. The word “lean” is appropriate when one thinks about the use in connection with performance athletes, often described as lean. The more progressive lean companies drive lean thinking throughout their entire business enterprise, taking waste out of their business processes and redefining the fundamental purpose of these processes, and integrating customer values into the entire enterprise. Successful athletes are focused on removing excess fat rather than all tissue, as companies embodying true lean principles are focused on removing waste rather than all costs.
