ABSTRACT
Picture the following scenario: You now have everything in place for your Lean manufacturing operation. You have a great production flow that has been translated into a highly efficient factory layout. You have hired a great team, and you have a simple but effective system for planning your production. Your first products are almost ready to roll off your Lean production cell…and there is a holdup. A critical component that you need to complete the product has not arrived in time. Everything stops. The workforce stops working, and team leaders run around trying to find something for the workers to do. Eventually, after several phone calls and much hand-
wringing, the missing parts arrive, production starts up again, the product is completed and delivered, and you heave a sigh of relief.
