How to use lean manufacturing to make your business more productive

It’s a common problem; your business is bringing in plenty of cash and revenues are growing, but you are struggling to make a decent profit. Why? And what steps can you take to turn things around?

One probable answer is to tackle the “waste” and inefficiency that is lurking in your business and acting as a brake on your ability to generate profits. A leaner operation can lower costs, increase output, help eliminate quality problems, reduce space requirements and cut time to market. It can also improve employee morale. And almost any business can benefit—whether in manufacturing or services.

“While there are specific types and definitions of waste in the world of operational efficiency, a simpler way to think of waste is any operational element that is a source of frustration in your business,” says BDC Senior Business Advisor Lucie Le François. “Lean management is a system based on the idea that providing value as perceived by the customer, customer satisfaction and customer experience drive long-term success.”