What is a lean supply chain?

Lean has evolved from just in time manufacturing to lean manufacturing and to a lean enterprise. In each of these stages there was an addition to the scope of lean manufacturing. For an example from the early manufacturing focus, lean manufacturers started looking at their full organization in the process of value creation. Then the lean manufacturers extend their boundaries to their customers and suppliers in order to create value.

Lean manufacturing is all about eliminating wastes form the system. A system contains many components in it. Any components when taken isolated from other components, has wastes which are born within those components. But there are many other wastes generated in the interaction points of these components. For an example in the manufacturing context, manufacturers themselves generate wastes. Over manufacturing, waiting for bulk manufacturing are some of them. On the other hand wastes are generated in the supply chain itself. For an example if the suppliers of the manufacturer is supplying only in bulks and if the lead times are longer, then the time of the manufacturer is wasted. The end result would be lengthening the lead time of the customer who sits in the other end of the supply chain and may be the cost of the products. Even the customers can contribute to the wastes in supply chain. For an example if the necessary information to the manufacturers is not passed on time, manufacturers and the suppliers to them will have to suffer consequences of to and ultimately will affect the customer himself apart from the other members in the chain. You can refer to my previous articles on lean manufacturing customers and suppliers for more thoughts on this topic.

So it is clear that a single unit in the supply chain can do very little in eliminating the wastes in the system. To effectively remove wastes from the system and gain value everyone throughout the supply chain must contribute. Everyone must be aligned to the needs of each other and must accept other as their partners. This will help all the parties including suppliers, manufacturers and the customers to achieve low costs, higher quality standards and lower lead times. Apart from these main business indicators reduction of wastes is an absolute requirement in today’s world. There are no resources to be wasted. Environmentally a lean supply chain is a blessing.