Provide a definition by description of the Lean philosophy. Where can Lean be deployed?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: Our trusty APICS dictionary weighs in thusly.
Lean is a philosophy of production that emphasizes the minimization of the amount of all the resources (including time) used in the various activities of the enterprise. It involves identifying and eliminating non-value-adding activities in design, production, supply chain management, and dealing with the customers. Lean producers employ teams of multiskilled workers at all levels of the organization and use highly flexible, increasingly automated machines to produce volumes of products in potentially enormous variety. It contains a set of principles and practices to reduce cost through the relentless removal of waste and through the simplification of all manufacturing and support processes.
The Lean philosophy has extended beyond just manufacturing to include services and essentially all aspects of supply chain management. Firms following a Lean philosophy often experience remarkable improvements in their productivity (outputs/inputs), inventory levels, and quality. Lean can also be applied outside of the work environment; even as I develop this test bank my garage is undergoing a magical transformation from a cluttered pit of grease and despair to a pristine, organized, car-friendly workshop.