So why would a company bother? Lean companies are better at making and delivering high quality products and services at a lower cost than their competitors are. They respond to both positive and negative changes in the market more quickly. They introduce more products in a shorter time. They have lower inventories and they turn raw materials into cash more quickly. They do all this while increasing employee safety, health, and satisfaction.

Not all companies are successful at implementing lean methods but the companies that are successful have a strategic advantage over their competitors.