The logic of Lean
In Lean, you pursue the ideal state of perfect processes and performance. You seek to understand the sources and root out the causes of waste The practice of Lean as the root-cause eliminator of wastefulness is based on a core set of fundamental assumptions. Follow this logic:
You provide products and/or services to your customers.
The customer has the need and defines the purpose. It all begins and ends with what your customer requires. Everything else is fluff.
The customer is the one true arbiter of value.
Your customer is willing to exchange their capital for your product or service only when they believe it’s a fair exchange of value. It has to be the right combination of the right quality of products and services, in the right place, at the right time and at the right price.
Value-creation is a process.
You create value for your customer through a combination of steps — such as marketing, design, production, processing, delivery and support — rightly performed, that result in the products and/or services that the customer will properly value.
Waste diminishes the process of value creation.
Things that creep in and prevent the steps in your processes from flowing quickly and effectively will inhibit your ability to create customer value.
A perfect process has no waste.
If every step in the process is fully capable, acts only when necessary, flows perfectly, and adapts to perform exactly as needed, the process will develop and deliver products and services perfectly — without waste. This is the ideal state.
Pursing perfect proceWhat Is Lean?sses maximize customer value.
The closer to perfection your processes become, the more effective the creation of value, the more satisfied the customers and the more successful the endeavor.
People create value. They implement the processes and utilize technology and equipment. Rooting out waste through Lean depends on creating the right culture and environment, where people are engaged, innovative, and perform meaningful work.
Some organizations believe in “being practical” and don’t strive for the “perfect process.” Lean warns you to not set your sights too low. Perfection through Lean is a journey, not a destination. Although your next practical
Implementation may be far from the ideal, you must always have a vision for what the ideal could be.