Lean is a systematic approach to optimizing the integration of people, systems, processes, tasks, procedures, instructions, equipment, and physical layouts to improve quality, efficiency, and effectiveness.  Lean is designed to create a continuous flow of value added activities to achieve the highest quality product or service, eliminate waste, increase capacity, and enhance employee involvement.

For years, Lean Principles have been implemented to great success in the manufacturing sector.  Healthcare and non-manufacturing businesses are increasingly turning to Lean and are seeing dramatic results in increased capacity to serve, decreased costs and reduced defects or errors.  The improvements are due to an organizational realignment that focuses on providing customer value.  Specifically, the value is defined as work the customer is willing to pay for, work that transforms a person, product, or service, and work that is done right the first time.  Everything else is waste or non-value added activity.

Given the uncertainty and competitive pressures in the economy today, Lean can facilitate the necessary transformation into a more agile and market-responsive organization.  Northern Initiatives provides an active learning and coaching model for companies interested in starting the Lean journey.  It is important to remember that Lean is not a one-time project but a journey, and it is through the journey that organizations learn to change their culture into one of continuous improvement and customer focus.