Lean Manufacturing

Lean manufacturing is a production methodology derived from the Toyota Production System that focuses on eliminating waste (muda) while maximizing customer value. The core principle is that every step in the manufacturing process should add value, anything that does not is waste to be eliminated.

Lean identifies seven types of waste: overproduction, waiting, transport, overprocessing, inventory, motion, and defects. Key lean tools include 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, and value stream mapping. Manufacturers practicing lean principles typically offer better quality, shorter lead times, and more competitive pricing, all attributes that can be evaluated through Speya (formerly Find My Factory).