THINK LEAN

Our actions are driven by what we think.  We are what we think.  Think Lean does mean really and literally to think of a lean system which will eliminate and cut out all the unwanted waste or fat.  Be it an individual or Organisation or Government it is important to think lean.  Physical fitness is all about staying fit and lean by burning the excess fat.  If you think lean you will stay lean and your will really mean lean in your thinking on everything.

Lean Thinking is a process of thinking which is based on continuous improvement.  If you are thinking lean it means that you are on a path of excellence and on the way to becoming a competent individual.  The objective is to continuously add value to yourself, the people you serve and the society in which you are living.

How does one measure the "Value Add" is very simple - is the person who is receiving your product or service happy to pay the price.  If the customer is able to see the value in the product then he will willingly pay the price.

The buying decision is always made in a split second and the clinching moment when the customer decides is buy is when he mentally compares the "perceived value" with the price at which the product or service is being offered.  If the perceived value is more than the price then the buying decision is made.  If the perceived value is less than the price at which the product or service is offered then the decision is not to buy.

The pressures faced by business organisations are immense and contradicting.  A customer is always looking for something new, improved, better but at the same time not willing to pay more.  How can we deliver better results at reduced costs and still stay profitable.  How can the continuous improvement in products and services with reducing margins be still sustainable?  This is where "Lean" plays a role.

"Lean" according to the Lean Enterprise Institute means "creating more value with fewer resources".  A lean organisation understands customer value and focuses its key processes to continuously increase it.  The ultimate goal is to provide perfect value to the customer through a perfect value creation process that has zero wastage.

I was introduced to Lean Thinking and Lean Management by my friend Dr.Kievan Zokaei who was introduced by a common friend in 2013.  He was the Director at the Lean Enterprise Research Center in Cardiff University.  He is a visiting Professor at the University of Buckingham.  He is a world renowned trainer, author and Consultant of "Lean and Green".

Dr.Kievan is a specialist in Lean Thinking and has written several articles, books and technical papers.  Among his works the notable one, in my opinion, is the book on "Lean and Green".

Dr.Kievan has been advocating "Lean Thinking" by combining it with "Green Thinking".  According to him an organisation should combine the efforts of Lean with Green so that you not only add value to the customers but you also continuously add value to the Environment and Society simultaneously.



Think "Lean and Green", stay fit, add value, stay on the path of excellence, continuously improve and be happy.

T.P.Anand
Chennai, India
22nd February 2017