Search the known universe for a definition of Lean and you will find a seemingly babelesque array of answers. It’s an old problem, yet still worth pondering. A small sampling of the numerous definitions offered follows.

• A logical approach to minimize gap between customer expectation and actual outcome at the best speed with the lowest cost.
• The art of mobilizing and pulling together the intellectual resources of all employees in the service of the firm, so that through learning by everyone and continual improvement, the organization delivers products and services of the highest quality, produced and delivered with the minimum of energy lost through Muda, Mura and Muri.
• A process for [pick one]…
  • eliminating waste.
  • minimizing the use of resources.
  • continuous improvement.
  • creating more value for customers with fewer resources.
  • walking around to find operations or activities needing improvement.
  • mapping approaches to collect process performance data.
  • improving quality.
  • doing things faster and faster.
  • reducing manufacturing costs and lead times.
• The Toyota Production System.
• A philosophy of manufacturing.
• Something we can’t define but will recognize it when we see it (didn’t Justice Stewart say that about…never mind).
• A culture.
• In its purest form is free market economics.
• The customer dictates quality and production. Anything else is waste.
• A methodology of providing products and services that increases the welfare (economic and otherwise) of the producers, the customers, and all society.
• A state of mind, a way of thinking and acting, where the coin of the realm is time and velocity, NOT cost and efficiency.

Which brings us to this problematic statement from Sam Tomas. “Because of the many interpretations of Lean, Lean can be defined as being anything a company wants it to be as it applies to themselves only.”

If Lean can be anything, it would seem to be nothing at all. No wonder there is so much of what Bob Emiliani would call “fake lean.” It’s much like calling a cake nutritious just because it was made with a sugar substitute and low fat milk.