ABSTRACT
Lean has been around for a few years now. However, common perceptions and misperceptions, some accurate and some less so, exist that necessitate some discussion as to their veracity.
To a large extent, Lean has become the poster child for the postindustrial world. Indeed, it has contributed immensely to the profitability and efficient functioning of many public and private institutions because of its emphasis on satisfying the customer. However, some perceptions and misperceptions exist that can jeopardize the value of Lean, maybe not in the short run, but in the long run, and can have devastating consequences for an organization. Most of these perceptions and misperceptions center on what Lean is not.
