ABSTRACT
First, Neo-Fordist principles are suggested to enhance labour productivity and therefore reduce unit costs in order to remain both competitive and profitable. To this end, the scientific management of labour and assembly line production is refined in such a way as to minimise costs and maximise productivity. It is suggested that this so-called ‘lean production’, ‘Toyotism’, ‘Just-in-Time’ (JIT) system is achieved by the elimination of unnecessary actions of people or equipment that do not contribute to added value. Enhanced productivity and profitability can be achieved by eliminating: over-production, time delays, multiple handling, unnecessary steps or work/procedures, unnecessary transportation, excess inventory (inputs and outputs), over-processing, production of a defective part or something that needs reworking, and by implementation of the concepts of continuous flow and consumer pull.
