A literature review of lean manufacturing

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this article is to understand the concept of lean manufacturing, its philosophy, various tools and techniques, lean implementation benefits and barrier towards lean implementation. Main concepts: Lean manufacturing by now is a widely discussed and applied manufacturing philosophy, in a variety of industries across the globe. The fundamental concept of lean manufacturing is to provide a quality product while also ensuring that the product does not cost too much to the customer. Most organizations today are going through a stage where there is a necessity to respond the rapidly changing customer needs. To sustain their place in the market, many organizations have started following the lean manufacturing concept. Methodology of the research: This article presents a review of the literature and attempts to identify the important and useful contributions to this subject. Results: Lean manufacturing utilizes a wide range of tools and techniques; the choice of tools is situation specific. Many factors contribute to lean success; not only is it mandatory to implement most of the lean tools, but an organization's culture needs transforming too. Companies following lean manufacturing have better flexibility and a good market share. Moreover, lean manufacturing produces an operational and cultural environment that is highly conducive to waste minimization.