Lean Manufacturing

Lean manufacturing, a term that emerged out of post-WWII Toyota, is a methodology that champions streamlined efficiency and a removal of waste and excess. It's success in Toyota's business practices has caught global attention for decades now, with companies -- no matter the size -- the world over opting for lean.

Lean focuses largely on continual improvement, promoting all employees of a given company to take part in problem-solving, organizing, removing waste, checking excess, and communicating efficiently.

A simple tool in lean implementation is creating a visual workplace -- a facility with organizational labels, wire wraps, and pipe markers is an obvious first step toward increased efficiency.

The foundation of a visual workplace employing much visual communication is based on many lean-manufacturing techniques such as 5S and Kanban. 5S, so named for five Japanese terms, champions order, cleanliness, and maintenance thereof. Kanban is a visual “just-in-time” system that delivers materials, supplies, and products where they are needed as they are needed.   

Each method employs the use of labels or signs in some regard to visually communicate helpful information.