
Lean Production System ◾ 35
Mura
Mura
18
refers to unevenness or fluctuation in work, usually caused by fluctu-
ating production plans. A simple example might be a production line that is
producing difficult models for half the shift and simple models for the sec-
ond half, so that workers strain for half the day and coast the other half. The
Lean system seeks to reduce mura through heijunka, or production leveling,
by mixing models, for example.
“Hey, Mabel, you didn’t eat your moussaka! You don’t like it?”
“Oh, no, Frankie, it was delicious! But it was more than I could eat.”
“But you liked it! OK, Spyro, wrap it up for the lady. She’ll have it fo ...