Abstrait

Reliability of Lean Tools

Parthipan. R, Anto Jenith.J ,Nirmalkannan. V

Lean production symbolizes an alternative to the traditional Western production organizations. It is much more than only the outsourcing of vertical range of manufacture to the suppliers. In fact, the lean philosophy is based on a continuous improvement process, which is supported by the employees and the suppliers in order to achieve an increase of productivity. The relationships between employer and employees, suppliers and consumers are totally new defined by implementing the Lean tools like Just-in-Time concept, the Kanban principle and cellular manufacturing. These changes of production management are necessary in order to produce a variety of high quality parts at competitive prices considering the significant changes of a more intense international competition and the increasing globalization. Since the late 1980’s “lean production has taken manufacturing industry by storm” [9]. The system, which was developed by Japan after the Second World War in order to overcome the shortage of Japan’s resources and the limited means, was first implemented at Toyota Motor Corporation. Toyota is still the prime example of a perfect lean implementation