Project: Lean Manufacturing Then

and Now

For

Lean Production Systems

by

Harsh N. Modi
(C0799355)

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 Table of Contents Page No.

I. Company Overview………………………………………………………………………………. 03

II. 1930s Fordism……………………………………………………………………………………... 03

III. Principle 1 : Long term Philosophy………………………………………………………. 06

IV. Principle 2 : Continuous Flow Process…………………………………………………. 06

V. Principle 3 : Use of PULL system to avoid Overproduction………………….. 07

VI. Principle 4 : Level out the Workload…………………………………………………… 08

VII. Principle 5 : Following the Standardized processes for continuous

improvement and employee empowerment………………………………………. 08

VIII. Principle 6 : Build a culture of stopping to fix problems to get

quality right………………………………………………………………………………………. 09

IX. Principle 7 : Use of Visual Control to support people in Decision

making and problem solving…………………………………………………………….. 09

X. Benefits after implementing lean principles…………………………………….. 10

XI. References………………………………………………………………………………………… 11

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 1930s Fordism

Introduction

Henry Ford is the Founder of Fordism concept as he worked as trainee in different

Michigan machine shops and in later years as a qualified engineer for the Edison

Illuminating company where he received the firsthand knowledge of how industries were

being run. Although Henry Ford was not the inventor of the automobile, he developed

unprecedented methods of production and marketing that made the automobile accessible

to the American working class. Ford wanted to make cars that his workers could afford. He

created the Ford Motor Company, which was one of a small automobile manufactures that

emerged in the early 20th century. Henry Ford’s success and revolutionary techniques of

production termed of “Fordism”.

What Is Fordism?

Fordism is the manufacturing system designed to spew out standardized, low-cost goods

and afford its workers decent enough wages to buy them. It has also been described as “a

model of economic expansion and technological progress based on mass production: of

standardized products in huge volumes using special purpose machinery and unskilled

labor”. Although Fordism was a method used to improve productivity in the automotive

industry, this principle could be applied to any kind of manufacturing process. Major

success stemmed from three major principles:

 The standardization of product

 The use of special purpose tools and equipment via the assembly line

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 The elimination of skilled labor in direct production, while simultaneously paying the

worker higher wages.

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 Toyota Production System (TPS)

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