Before answering whether lean manufacturing is useful or not. Lets see what actually lean manufacturing is. Lean manufacturing or production is a method used in the production of goods under which the main focus of the management is to reduce the waste that is generated into the production process. So, lean manufacturing is a tool to identify the waste and reduce the waste in production waste. Hoeveel it does not mean compromising with the efficiency and productivity. The main point under this system is that efficiency or productivity remains the same with the major focus on reducing waste.

Smiley face

Now the question is what kind of wastes are removed from the production process. The following are the waste from the point of view of the management which hampers the efficiency. These are:

1. Shortage of raw material which makes the machines and labor idle.

2. Over production which hampers the profitability.

3. Idle labor and unutilized machineries in the production department.

4. Defective machines and equipments which slow down the production process.

5. Poor quality of the goods produced in the factory.

6. Wasteful and unproductive motions in the premises or production unit.

All these are waste and reducing them will definitely improve the efficiency in the production process.

Smiley face

Now coming to your question, lean manufacturing is useful to an organisation. Toyota was the first company to imbibe lean manufacturing into their production process. And they have reaped the benefits as well. According to a study 60% of the activities in an production premise are waste so lean manufacturing focuses on reducing these waste and thus definitely helps in achieving efficiency as well as effectiveness in the production process.