C-17 Supply Chain Lean Initiatives

ABSTRACT

The C-17 program began its journey implementing supplier lean initiatives with the support of the United States Air Force (USAF) Systems Program Office (SPO). This paper includes the process the C-17 Supplier Lean Implementation Team uses to implement lean principles throughout the supply chain. The flow of a supplier lean event is explained including the education, value stream mapping, deployment strategy and execution of the plan. Also shared are integration activities with Lean Manufacturing and Lean Engineering.