Lean Manufacturing Articles and Resources

1. Managing a Lean Company in an Economic Downturn
As the global economy weakens, Lean manufacturers that are experiencing sharp falls in demand may well be challenged with the need to reduce their workforce. This article discusses how to manage this process with the least amount of disruption to the Lean deployment process.

2. A Great List of Common Lean Myths
This article covers 8 common Lean myths.

3. What would Toyota Do? | Toyota Production System TPS
When faced with process improvement challenges, kaizen workshop leaders often ask how Toyota solves similar problems. While an honest question, in this article we discuss why lean implementers should use caution in copying Toyota outright with regards to specific solutions or tools. Instead, we argue that if companies focus on the overall underlying philosophy of the Toyota Production System (TPS), their long-term success will be better secured.

4. Toyota Production System Analogy
A common Toyota Production System technique employed when analyzing value added activities is to view individual operators as hospital “surgeons”. This article explains the philosophy behind this analogy and offers the “stand in circle” approach in helping managers begin to use it.

5. Gembutsu Workshop at Lean Manufacting Conference in Edmonton, Canada
On June 18th 2007, Gembutsu presented a 4 hour session on the roles that senior managers and other functional departments play in supporting a Lean organization? The presenters were be Peter Kropf and Keith Batie, two of the firm's Managing Partners who are known for delivering energetic and informative presentations.

6. The Benefits of Lean Manufacturing: Single Piece Flow
Many of us are familiar with the common definition of lean manufacturing. This article examines the benefits that waste elimination will have on a company as it achieves single piece flow.

7. Lean Manufacturing Glossary, Definitions and Terms
Gembutsu Consulting glossary and definition of lean manufacturing, Toyota Production System (TPS) and Kaizen terminology.

8. What is Lean Manufacturing?
What is lean manufacturing, and how does it help to streamline and improve productivity and profits for your manufacturing business?

9. Why Lean?
The significance of lean manufacturing and how it can impact your business.

Lean Enterprises
The Lean Enterprise Institute. is a non profit organization that publishes books, organizes workshops, conferences and conducts research on lean manufacturing topics.

Useful Lean Books
Productivity Press is the premier publisher for lean manufacturing business improvement.