Preface

Over the past two decades lean practices have evolved considerably. The focus of early lean practices in the 1980s was the elimination of ­non-value-added activities and resources. More recently, there has been recognition of the significant role people play in achieving lean objectives. Numerous forces, including a large number of global competitors and greater access to global markets; an increasing pace of knowledge, information, and technological advances; seemingly ever shortening product life cycles; as well the recent and continuing global financial hardships have placed a premium on lean practices.

This book promotes a framework of four necessary and interrelated lean system elements: leadership, culture, teamwork, as well as ...

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