Leaning Definition
In business, lean means creating more value for customers with fewer resources. A lean organization understands customer value and focuses its key processes to continuously increase it. The ultimate goal is to eliminate waste so that all activities add value.
Lean has often been associated with manufacturing processes, but it can be applied to any type of business process. In fact, many organizations are now applying lean principles to their non-manufacturing processes such as human resources, accounting, and even IT.
The main tenants of lean are:
Eliminating waste – Lean is all about eliminating anything that doesn’t create value for the customer. This includes anything from excess inventory to wasted time and effort.
Creating value for the customer – All activities and processes should be focused on creating value for the customer. Anything that doesn’t contribute to this goal should be eliminated.
Continuous improvement – Lean is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Organizations should always be looking for ways to improve their processes and eliminate waste.
