What describes "lean manufacturing"?

Lean manufacturing is fundamentally about maximizing efficiency by systematically identifying and eliminating waste within the production process. This approach focuses on creating more value for customers with fewer resources by streamlining operations, improving quality, and reducing lead times. Key principles of lean manufacturing include continuous improvement (kaizen), the importance of understanding value from the customer's perspective, and minimizing activities that do not add value to the end product.

The emphasis is on improving flow, reducing excess inventory, eliminating unnecessary steps, and optimizing processes to achieve the highest efficiency. By concentrating on waste reduction—whether it be in terms of time, materials, or labor—organizations can enhance productivity and reduce costs without compromising quality.

In contrast, increasing product variety would potentially complicate processes and could lead to more inefficiencies, while a strategy aimed at cost increase or maximizing labor costs contradicts the core philosophy of lean manufacturing, which seeks to enhance value and efficiency.