The 5 Lean Principles: Definitions & How to Use Them

The 5 Lean Principles: Definitions & How to Use Them

Lean management is a set of management practices designed to remove waste and improve efficiency and productivity. It originated in Japan and is widely used in industries such as project management, software development, construction and more. The five key lean principles are defining value, value stream mapping, creating flow, establishing pull, and continuous improvement. These principles are shared with everyone involved in the project so they always work with the customer's needs in mind. The most important details in this text are the five lean principles: create flow, establish pull, continuous improvement, and implement lean project management.

Flow involves creating a tight sequence of value stream steps, which leads to cross-functional teams working together to create greater productivity. Pull means the customer can pull the product with a shorter production cycle, which saves on inventory costs. Continuous improvement involves approaching perfection in all aspects of the corporate culture, and should never stop following these steps.