Lean Manufacturing: How to Start, Support and Sustain

The Alabama Technology Network, Inc. (ATN) provides technical assistance, management assistance and training that complements workforce and economic development. The ATN center at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has focused on lean manufacturing. This paper summarizes the principles of “lean”, presents three phases to implementing lean, and illustrates its application in a training simulation of a setup/changeover reduction. Finally, success stories show how UAH is helping many small and medium size manufacturers improve rapidly using lean techniques.