We’ve seen many value stream maps (VSM) over the past 20 years, as it has become a common tool. In some companies it’s a first requirement before a lean effort begins. In other companies, value stream ...

Lean thinking - the philosophy of maximizing customer value while minimizing waste - has long been hailed as a panacea for low productivity and poor performance. Introduced decades ago through the ...

It’s a question that crops up with amazing regularity: What’s next after lean manufacturing? It’s an odd inquiry, really, because it implies that you “finish” lean or toss it aside in favor of the ...