We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Business

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Lean Management?

K.C. Bruning
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,574
Share

Lean management is the continuous process of eliminating and avoiding waste in an organization in order to save resources and produce a better product. Also known as lean production, or simply lean, it can be used in any kind of business but is most commonly found in manufacturing, where the system originated. The philosophy of lean management, which was developed by Toyota, is based on the idea that three primary kinds of waste must be reduced in order to smooth the flow production and improve the quality of the resulting product. They are mura, or unevenness, muri, which means overburden, and muda, which is non-value-adding work.

By adhering to the three principles of lean management, an organization can reduce material costs, labor costs, and the amount of time needed for production. The absence of waste can also improve the ability of an organization to manage quality control, thus resulting in a more uniformly high-quality product. By applying these ideas to the whole system, rather than focusing on individual problems, it can be easier to see how the elements of an organization relate to each other and what is necessary to enable them to interconnect in a productive way.

One of the key elements of successful lean management is flexibility. This includes a willingness to continually change systems in order to ensure that they are optimized for current needs and future productivity. It also requires that management accept input from all levels of the organization, rather than enforcing rigid control. The overall goal is to improve processes by humanizing them with the use of organic logic rather than strangling progress with systematic restrictions.

Another important element of lean management is the reduction of inventory. If systems are operating at optimum efficiency, inventory should be low to non-existent. In addition to ultimately lowering costs, a reduced inventory requires less management and thus prevents waste of workforce resources. There should also be as little waste as possible during the process of and as a result of production.

While the basic principles of lean management have endured, Toyota’s philosophy of a smooth work flow has been modified and refined by several organizations. Over time, more resources have been focused on building tools and processes that reduce and eliminate waste. This is accomplished by targeting problem areas in addition to making system-wide improvements. Ultimately, the methods of lean management have varied widely, but the final goal of eliminating waste has remained constant.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
K.C. Bruning
By K.C. Bruning
Kendahl Cruver Bruning, a versatile writer and editor, creates engaging content for a wide range of publications and platforms, including WiseGeek. With a degree in English, she crafts compelling blog posts, web copy, resumes, and articles that resonate with readers. Bruning also showcases her passion for writing and learning through her own review site and podcast, offering unique perspectives on various topics.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
K.C. Bruning
K.C. Bruning
Kendahl Cruver Bruning, a versatile writer and editor, creates engaging content for a wide range of publications and...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-lean-management.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.