LEAN Principles Implemntation in Practice Essay

LEAN Principles Implemntation in Practice - Essay Example One of these methods is the Lean system, which was developed in Japan by Toyota automobile company to help improve its efficiency. Integration of the lean principles in a company’s operations is considered one of the potential approaches for improvement of organizational performance. The principles have been credited with improving manufacturing effectiveness in a number of Japanese companies but Toyota is still unrivalled in its application of Lean through its Toyota Production System (TPS). Many companies have learnt about Lean production principles both theoretically and practically from Toyota but many still face problems implementing Lean in their companies (Spear & Bowen, 1999). This paper explores the process of Lean implementation through all organization levels with the aim of improving performance. The paper starts by examining Lean principles and how they are applied in improvement of operations before discussing the implementation of the process in a construction company. While discussing the implementation of the model in the company, challenges that may be faced in the process will be highlighted as well as the limitation of the Lean approach in the construction industry. The paper proposes a potential perspective of the Lean approach that can be considered by managers in the construction industry for sustainable performance of companies. The Lean model of operations management first originated with Henry Ford when he developed a manufacturing concept that involved a continuous assembly line with workers playing specific roles in the process (Holweg, 2007). This was the first mass production approach in the automobile manufacture industry and it was aimed at improving efficiency as well as reducing fatigue of workers by letting them work on simpler repetitive tasks which they could master and become proficient in.