Simply put… Maximizing value while minimizing waste
Lean management is an approach to running an organization that supports the concept of continuous improvement, a long-term approach to work that systematically seeks to achieve small, incremental changes in processes in order to improve overall efficiency and quality. The philosophy and practice has its roots in manufacturing but it has been equally effective in service delivery organizations as well. Lean offers a simple, repeatable, and inclusive way to draw on the expertise of those doing the work, since they know best what works and what doesn’t! “People are at the center of Bellevue College and the means through which we achieve excellence” [BC Strategic Plan].
History of Lean
1913: Henry Ford credited with starting the Lean movement
1930-1950’s: Toyota invented the Toyota Production System based on Ford’s original thinking
1990: The thought process of Lean described in Jim Womack’s book “The Machine That Changed the World”
1997: Jim Womack founded the Lean Enterprise Institute