Basic Information

Lean manufacturing is a business model and collection of tactical methods that emphasize eliminating non-value added activities (waste) while delivering quality products on time at least cost with greater efficiency. In the U.S., lean implementation is rapidly expanding throughout diverse manufacturing and service sectors such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, furniture production, and health care as a core business strategy to create a competitive advantage.

While the focus of lean manufacturing is on driving rapid, continual improvement in cost, quality, service, and delivery, significant environmental benefits typically "ride the coattails" or occur incidentally as a result of these production-focused efforts. Lean production techniques often create a culture of continuous improvement, employee empowerment, and waste minimization, which is very compatible with organizational characteristics encouraged under environmental management systems (EMS) and pollution prevention (P2). Other related business strategies such as "Six Sigma" can have the same effect.

This website is designed to provide information about the relationship between lean and the environment and about approaches for leveraging greater environmental benefits from lean trends and initiatives. It provides a variety of resources to enhance integration of lean methods and tools to improve environmental results. The content focuses on the results of background research EPA has conducted on the relationship between lean and environment performance, as well as case studies, fact sheets and tools containing ideas and techniques for integrating environmental considerations into lean initiatives and methods. This website also summarizes several current initiatives which EPA is pursuing with partner organizations to identify and develop tools and resources which can leverage better environmental performance from lean initiatives.

Lean Home | Top of Page

Basic Information

Local Navigation