In addition to the well-qualified answers of our previouos colleagues ("pull" efect instead of "push"), I would simply add that LEAN Management is a PHILOSOPHY that focuses on removing waste from your processes: no mistakes, no rejections, no unneeded stock, reducing transportation, and overtime, etc.
In short: you manufacture what your customer has ordered right at the first time, in less time, and with less cost.
Do no hesitate to contact me in case you need.
Yours,
Javier
by
Mohamed Salah , Organizational Excellence Manager , Sutherland Global Services - Egypt
I am occasionally asked, "What is the difference between traditional manufacturing versus lean manufacturing." The overarching "big picture" difference between traditional manufacturing and lean manufacturing involves a totally different mindset.
To be more specific I've put together a short list below, in no particular order, of what I see as some of the important differences between lean and the traditional approach. These are generalizations, but based on my experience I've found these generalizations to be true 100% of the time.
Traditional: Production driven by a sales forecast (Push).
Lean: Production is driven by customer demand; items are only produced when an order is placed (Pull - one of the 5 lean principles).
Traditional: Problems are viewed as just that, problems.
Lean: Problems are viewed as opportunities for improvement often through root cause analysis.
Traditional: Work in process (WIP) is viewed as a normal part of operations.
Lean: WIP is a sign that a process needs to improved and is considered a type of waste that should be reduced or eliminated (the same is true for inventory).
Traditional: Improve system (disregarding all of the types of waste in the process).
Lean: Improve system by 1) Eliminating waste and 2) Improving current processes.
Traditional: Management is the primary driver of change.
Lean: Everyone is empowered, trained in the principles of lean and encouraged to look for ways to improve processes.
Traditional: If a process is working (if it ain't broke) don't fix it.
Lean: Always look for ways to improve processes.
Traditional: Standardized work (people performing the same task the same way) only exists in documents like SOPs, rarely in reality.
Lean: Everyone performs the same task the exact same way until a better way is discovered; then everyone performs the task the new and improved way.
Traditional: Focuses on training and relies on people to not make mistakes.
Lean: Focuses on building processes that are error proofed (a person cannot make a mistake or it would be difficult to do so).
Traditional: Systems thinking (views the organization as a whole), often ignoring or unable to see the enormous opportunities for improvement.
Lean: Views the organization as a series of interrelated processes that can and should be improved.
Finally i hope i helped you by my answer.
conventional manufacturing could be considered as the opposite of lean manufacturing,
as when lean is concerned about minimizing the wastes, conventional manufacturing is concerned about the quantity.
when lean is concerned about just on time production, conventional is about keep producing as long as the plant can produce and hire more storehouses.
problems should only be overcame and corrected, if only conv.. manufacturing is considered, while if Lean is considered then you are
looking for predictive and preventive actions.
even about the least added
item to the Lean list of wastes, workers are the bridge to highest efficient, highest quality standard, min cycle time through continual improving training training .
while the through conventional manufacturing understanding they are almost a set of fixed tools, and they should be mastering only their only limited task.
Almost all the points has been discussed but i would like to add some more significant points to this
Lean system deals with7 types of wastages and the whole process is to get those wastages reduced1.Defects2.overproduction3.Transportation4.Waiting5.Inventory6.Motion7.Processing
