The article discusses the automation of document flow in companies as one of the lean manufacturing tools. Lean manufacturing involves the involvement of each employee in the optimization process and maximum customer focus. This facilitates problem analysis and selection of solutions for business processes. Problems arising in the process of document flow at enterprises were analyzed using a tool such as the Ishikawa cause-and-effect diagram using the example of large enterprises (in particular TMK Group and Sinara). In addition, to streamline the document flow process, another management tool was considered from a lean manufacturing perspective – a value stream map, the result of which was a current state map and a target state map. An analysis of electronic document management systems was carried out, the most optimal for use in a group of companies.