Value to the Customer

Every activity or process is evaluated based on whether it adds value from the customer’s perspective.

Efforts are streamlined to prioritise outcomes that align with customer needs.

Waste Elimination (Muda)

Activities or resources that don’t contribute to customer value are identified and reduced or eliminated.

Common forms of waste include overproduction, defects, waiting times, and unnecessary motion.

Employee Empowerment

Team members are trusted to suggest and implement improvements.

Lean culture encourages open communication and collaborative problem-solving across all organisational levels.

Standardisation & Flexibility

Processes are standardised to maintain quality and efficiency while remaining adaptable to change.

Continuous improvement involves refining these standards over time.

Small, Incremental Changes

Lean focuses on Kaizen, or continuous improvement through small, manageable adjustments rather than large, disruptive overhauls.

Incremental changes accumulate over time to yield significant benefits.

Focus on Root Causes

Problems are analysed deeply to address their root causes, rather than just treating symptoms. Tools like the “5 Whys” method are often used.