Lean For Dummies
Chapter One
Defining Lean
In This Chapter
* Knowing that Lean is big
* Understanding that Lean is a philosophy, a framework, a methodology, techniques, and
tools
* Probing the Lean pedigree
* Figuring out how Lean fits in with the global family of business improvement systems
When you first hear the word lean, it conjures up an image. Most likely,
you're seeing a mental picture of thin people - like long-distance runners,
or those aerobics junkies who somehow don't seem to have an ounce of
extra fat on them. Or maybe you're thinking about lean food - the foods that
are lower in fat and, of course, much better for you. Lean also implies lightweight,
in the sense of speed and agility, with a sort of edge or underlying
aggressiveness that recalls the rhyme "lean and mean."
That's because the word lean suggests not only a physical condition, but also
a certain discipline - a mental toughness. The notion of Lean carries with it a
commitment to a set of principles and practic ... read full excerpt from Lean For Dummies ebook
