Modern Lean Thinking

Abstract

Modern lean thinking is linked to complementarity that addresses the issue of synergies. Confined mainly within the production activity or even applied partly to an organisation, Lean organisations never achieved synergies with the objective of complementation. Moreover, overstressing the importance of MUDA (waste) preaching that Lean is merely continuously hunting and killing waste. Wherever they can spot it, this alone could bring the benefits companies promised. The one-sided, almost dogmatic orientation towards waste elimination does not necessarily promote complementarities. We believe that modern Lean should move away from overstressing waste. Furthermore, the importance of information was underplayed by consulting companies trying to persuade their customers to implement Lean almost without any investment in software technology. Consultants are not to blame for the situation since the attitude of companies was that changes and results should come rashly from such initiatives. Unfortunately, this is not true.