ABSTRACT
The fundamental concept of lean focuses on the creation of value for the end customer through the systematic elimination of waste. Waste can be described as any non-value-added activity resulting from poorly designed or executed processes, overburdening of people and equipment as well as unevenness of workloads. Lean is a management philosophy derived from the Toyota Production System (TPS). It involves a set of tools deployed in a structured way to identify and eliminate waste and improve process flow. Conceptually, lean focuses on process efficiency improvements with a goal of continuous, one-piece flow. It presents a way of thinking and acting for an entire organization, by promoting an attitude and behavior consistent with a continuous improvement mindset and culture. Lean thinking changes one's own mindset by focusing attention on looking for problems to solve versus waiting for the next one to occur before solving it. The mindset of an organization is established and demonstrated by leadership.
