Lean process improvement is a culture of ideas, tools, and processes that are designed to eliminate waste and improve workflow, to provide maximum value for minimum cost. Although it has only emerged as a popular business idea in the past few decades, its basic concepts have existed for over 300 years.
It is important to note that Lean should not be viewed as a quick fix or something that just a particular department does. The companies that have success with Lean efforts are those that incorporate it as part of their culture. Ideally, all employees should have some form of Lean training, whether it is a quick seminar or a complete certification.