If you\u2019ve heard some buzz about Lean tools and principles, you\u2019re not alone. Lean tools got their start in America as early as the 1900s, when Henry Ford used Lean methodology<\/a> to create the Model T assembly line. Lean methodology also has an expansive legacy outside the U.S., with companies such as Toyota making considerable breakthroughs in the application of Lean Tools throughout the 1930s.<\/p>\n In addition to being the first to correctly implement the Lean tool Just-In-Time, for example, Toyota is also known for creating its own Lean Production System<\/a>. In this article, we\u2019ll explore what Lean tools are and discuss the applications for seven common ones that you\u2019ll encounter in Lean Six Sigma.<\/p>\n The Japanese word for waste is muda, which is defined as \u201cuselessness.\u201d Lean tools are designed to reduce Muda in organizations and improve quality control. In other words, Lean tools seek to eliminate processes that aren\u2019t valuable.<\/p>\n Lean tools are utilized across many industries\u2014from manufacturing to engineering to finance\u2014 and organizations often leverage them together with Six Sigma methods. Though there are some differences between the two frameworks, the underlying philosophies behind Lean and Six Sigma complement each other exceptionally well: Lean tools are designed to eliminate invaluable processes, while Six Sigma focuses on lessening variation within a process. When used together, the two are referred to as Lean Six Sigma, a process that reduces and manages different types of waste in organizations.<\/p>\n Though there are several different types of Lean tools, this article will focus on seven of them, and how they can be applied.<\/p>\n
\nWhat Are Lean Tools?<\/h2>\n