What Lean Manufacturing Is

Lean manufacuring process is a general term for a wide variety of manufacturing methodologies that are bent on maximizing the value and minimizing the waste in a manufacturing process.

The lean manufacturing process had its origin from the Toyota Production System in Japan. Most of the pharses and terms used in the lean manufacturing process such as kanban, kaizen and andon are Japanese terms that became standards in teh lean manufacturing process.

The Focus Of Lean Manufacturing

Basically, lean manufacturing is focused on value. What is value? 

Value is defined in the lean manufacturing process as something that the customer is willing to pay for. Aside from this, all aspects of the manufacturing process is now deemed a waste.

So all processes that is included in the lean manufacturing process is focused on gaining value and reducing waste. The lean manufacturing process is seen as a tool that focuses all the resources and energies to the features with value and less on the features with no value.

Lean Manufacturing Process Is Customer Centric

Lean manufacturing process is customer centric. The term value that is defined in the lean manufacturing process is based on the definition of value from a customer's point of view.

Companies who have identified their customers and how they define the term value will focus all their resources on that particular value.

So basically, companies who observe lean manufacturing processes are manufacturing based on customer needs.

Through the use of lean manufacturing process, companies hopes to satisfy their customers and gain more revenue. 

Lean Manufacturing Process Eliminates Waste

The lean manufacturing process eliminates waste. Waste is defined in the lean manufacturing process as anything that the customer is not willing to pay for. 

So companies hoped for eliminating waste by conserving the process in manufacturing. Companies focuses on correcting the levels of quality and features of the manufacturing process. The companies hopes to make the manufacturing process "leaner" by eliminating unnecessary processes or loops.

In a lean manufacturing process, an inventory that is depleted is simply replenished, when a customer demands, the company delivers the product, all processes are monitored and checked. 

Upon monitoring, the company will be able to have standard targets and will have an idea whenever the manufacturing process has reached its qouta or is higher or below what is expectant of it. 

These figures will also tell the company of any loopholes that it needs to correct. By correcting these loopholes and avoiding any unnecessary items in the process, the process will be faster and more effective.

Basically, the equation for the actual cost of a product has changed since the advent of the lean manufacturing process. Previously, the equation is price of the product is equal to the cost of manufacturing and the expectant profit.

Lean Manufacturing Process Is Continuous Improvement

The lean manufacturing process also commits to the continuous improvement of the manufacturing line. Doing so will eliminate whatever process that can be eliminated as time passes by. Old processes will always be replaced by newer and better ones.

Lean Manufacturing Process Is Effective

All in all, the objective of the lean manufacturing process is to satisfy the customers, increase the morale of the employees, and increase the gain of the shareholders.

The lean manufacturing process satisfies the customers because it provide their needs and deliver them on time. The lean manufacturing process satisfies the employees of the companies because it eliminates unnecessary and tiring process along the manufacturing line. Also, more and more automation of the processes will surely eliminate any human error along the process.
      