In Lean manufacturing, what is emphasized alongside eliminating waste?

In Lean manufacturing, alongside eliminating waste, a strong emphasis is placed on minimizing defects. This approach is rooted in the core principle of Lean, which is to create value for the customer while reducing any activities that do not add value. By minimizing defects, organizations are not only able to reduce waste in terms of resources and time but also enhance overall production efficiency and effectiveness. Ensuring that products meet high standards of quality reduces the likelihood of rework or returns, thus further minimizing waste and contributing to a smoother production process.

This focus on lowering defects leads to improvements across various operational metrics, drives customer satisfaction, and supports the Lean goal of continuous improvement. While increasing production speed, enhancing product quality, and improving customer service are all important objectives in a manufacturing context, they are often achieved as a result of a rigorous focus on minimizing defects rather than being the primary goal in Lean practices.