Lean refers to a collection of principles, methods and tools that focus on the systematic identification and elimination of waste (non-value adding activities) in all forms. Lean uses the unrelenting search for efficiency (waste reduction) as a means to define and improve organizational performance. Lean principles can be applied throughout enterprises - on a production floor, in administrative settings and beyond.

A method of conducting single-piece flow, where the operator proceeds from machine to machine, taking the part from one machine and loading it into the next. [Same as Chaku-Chaku]