I’ve always been curious about the term “lean” as it pertains to lean manufacturing or lean production. The engineer Taiichi Ohno was credited with coming up with the idea as a means of improving production after World War II. His philosophy was one that focused on eliminating waste, reducing inventory and improving productivity. As the word “lean” would indicate, the concept emphasizes getting rid of redundant or needless processes, keeping in mind the consumer who will ultimately be the one that uses the end product or service.
Lean production has been an integral element of manufacturing throughout the world and has been behind innumerable improvements in both productivity and quality on a global basis. While visiting the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) recently, I had the opportunity to meet Phil Zolan, who had just been named executive director of the Floor Covering Business to Business Association (FCB2B).