Author
John Krafcik
Year
1988
Triumph of the Lean Production System
John Krafcik. 1988. (View Paper→ )
- This paper coined the term "lean production" to describe the Toyota Production System (TPS), which focused on eliminating waste, improving quality, and increasing efficiency in manufacturing processes.
- It highlighted the superiority of lean production methods over traditional mass production techniques. It demonstrated that lean production could lead to higher productivity, better quality, and lower costs compared to conventional manufacturing systems.
- It played a crucial role in popularising the principles of lean production and TPS beyond the automotive industry and inspired many companies across various sectors to adopt lean thinking and continuous improvement practices, leading to significant advancements in manufacturing and operations management.