Gemba is a Japanese word meaning the actual place where value-creating work happens. Many leaders use gemba only for solving problems, visiting only when there is an issue. Others practice gemba walks on a daily basis to follow up and monitor the situation. However, Toyota believes that leaders truly develop through daily experiences at the gemba. In reality, gemba is a principle for managing, developing and improving people and processes. It is a valuable tool that helps lean practitioners learn the true facts so they can base management decisions on the actual situation.

Gemba is a Japanese word meaning the actual place where value-creating work happens. Many leaders use gemba only for solving problems, visiting only when there is an issue. Others practice gemba walks on a daily basis to follow up and monitor the situation. However, Toyota believes that leaders truly develop through daily experiences at the gemba. In reality, gemba is a principle for managing, developing and improving people and processes. It is a valuable tool that helps lean practitioners learn the true facts so they can base management decisions on the actual situation.

Poka-yoke is a Japanese word that means "error-proofing". It involves using simple and cheap tools to help workers avoid making mistakes in their work. These devices prevent errors like using the wrong parts, forgetting to put in a part, or installing a part the wrong way. In simpler words, in Japanese, "poka" means making a mistake by accident, and "yoke" means stopping or avoiding the mistake. Have you ever wondered why Japanese cars are known for being reliable. Even cars that are 20 years old can still run well and keep up with the newest and top cars in the automobile industry. This is because they are made to be of high quality. Quality is being built into the design process.

In order to cut costs during the economic downturn, many businesses are implementing abstinence policies. This could mean laying off workers and cutting some wages. In fact, those actions might only work for a short time.Unless the company implements a culture of continuous improvement and alters its method of operation, the situation may recur and become even worse. This brings us back to the purpose for which the Toyota production system was developed. Waste is anything that uses resources but offers the customer nothing in return. Most activities are waste, or "muda," and can be divided into two categories. Although type one muda does not provide value, it is inescapable given the production assets and technologies available today. An illustration would be checking welds for safety, that type we also call necessary non value-added activity. Type two muda does not add value and can be quickly eliminated. An illustration is a process in a process village with disconnected phases that may be swiftly converted into a cell where unnecessary material moves and inventory are no longer necessary. A very small portion of all value-stream activities truly generate value as perceived by the client. The most effective way to boost business performance is to stop doing the numerous unnecessary things.

One-piece flow, also known as continuous flow, is considered the ultimate lean goal. It describes how items are efficiently moved from one stage of the process to the next by designing the workflow around the requirements of the product. To get from point A to point B is the objective. Any waste or halt in production is equivalent to the stones and dams that direct the flow of water. We examine our layouts, devices, procedures, rules, cultures, and knowledge while attempting to implement flow to see what might be causing these flow-blocking factors. Continuous flow aids in waste reduction. Because there is harmony and rhythm between each stage of the process, wastes are eliminated from the system. This enables each team member to provide value rather than produce waste. Processing waste is decreased because there is naturally less rework (or overprocessing), there is only as much work done as the customer is prepared to pay for, and there is only one accepted technique to complete the task (no bad processing).

Many businesses say that lean failed to meet their long-term objectives and that the improvements it brought about were only temporary. When businesses utilize lean as a toolkit, copying and pasting the methodologies without trying to adapt the employee culture, manage the improvement process, maintain the outcomes, and grow their leaders, 7 out of every 10 lean projects fail. The primary objective when the Toyota production method was developed was to eliminate wastes from the shop floor by utilizing some lean techniques and technologies. What wasn't made obvious was that Toyota would need to invest heavily in personnel development and training throughout a protracted leadership development process. An issue with management and leadership, as well as an incorrect understanding of human behavior and the necessary culture for success, is the failure to achieve and sustain improvement.

This book discusses the seven deadly wastes (muda) in the value stream process. It presents the cost of each waste, its effect on the process, and how it can be eliminated to increase profitability. Waste removal increases the profitability of any business. Processes are classified into value added and waste. The seven deadly wastes that could exist in any manufacturing process originated in Japan and are defined in the Toyota production system (TPS). The main goal became removing them. For each waste, there is a strategy to remove or eliminate it. What is less likely is that managers will know how any of these issues are affecting them and increasing costs. To remove each waste, you have to understand where it comes from, why it exists, and how it affects your business. In the economic recession, many companies are taking abstinence procedures to reduce costs. This might include layoff labors and reducing some wages. Actually, those actions might work for only a short period. Afterwards, the situation may return and in worse shape unless the company changes its way of doing things, including enacting a culture of continuous improvement. This puts us back to why the Toyota production system has been created.