Productivity push: how you get lean

Lean production is a method of manufacturing for which Toyota Motor Corp has been credited, although it is based on older ideas of workplace efficiency.

At heart, it is a focus on activities that create value for the end customer, with all other areas of operation considered a waste that must be eliminated. Many ideas originate from factory workers and operators who are organised into teams that identify waste and optimise value-producing activities. Key elements include a focus on just-in-time delivery, product quality right first time, every time, with no re-work and a long-term win-win relationship with suppliers.

The Australian Financial Review