The Lean Committee Definitions

5S
5S is an approach to organizing the workplace to improve performance that stems from 5 Japanese words
(Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu, Shitsuke), translated to Sort, Set in Order/Straighten, Shine/Sweep, Standardize,
and Sustain. 5S utilizes visual controls to remove unnecessary materials and equipment, place items where
they are needed to eliminate reaching and moving to find tools and equipment, standardizing the labeling and
organization of items, and maintaining this through constant, thorough cleanliness and adherence to the first 4
Ss. This creates a safe, clean, organized, and high performance work environment.

Breakthrough Improvement (Kaikaku)

Radical process improvements that affect the future value stream, often implemented during the course of
Kaizen Events.

Cell Manufacturing
The layout and alignment of processes and equipment in the correct sequence of process flow, wherein operators
work within a cell with materials brought to them from outside of the Cell.

Cross-Functional Team
A team comprised of individuals who represent different functions within a given process. This may be a specific
activity formed team (for a Kaizen Event) or a more permanent team.

Defects
Making bad parts, having scrap, wrong information, and/or having to rework items. One of the 7 Wastes.

Inventory
Inventory consists of all raw materials, purchased parts and materials, all Work-In-Process (WIP), and any
finished goods which are not yet sold. One of the 7 Wastes.

Kaizen
A continuous Improvement philosophy which creates more value and reduces waste, resulting in improved
quality, speed, and delivery time, as well as lowered costs. This ongoing continuous improvement involves the
entire workforce, from front line workers up through senior management.

Kaizen Event
A structured, team-based, short term problem solving event that focuses on making immediate process
improvements throughout an organization. Typically this involves training, Current State Analysis, Future State
Design, prioritization of improvements, new process training, and implementing the improvements.

Kanban
A visual signal, typically a card or container, used by a downstream process to signal an upstream process to
replenish what has been consumed. Kanbans contain all of the necessary replenishment information (name, part
number, quantity, etc.), and are crucial to a Pull System.

www.uttana.com info@uttana.com
The Lean Committee cont’d. Definitions

KPI (Key Performance Indicator)

Key Performance Indicator (KPI) indicates any key performance that gives the actual data for a particular
outcome.

Lean Committee
A governing body of department managers that ensure lean is part of the company’s overall business strategy.

Motion
Any movement related to people that does not add value to the product or service. One of the 7 Wastes.

Productivity
The scaled amount of benefit realized, as derived from inputs.

Quality
Quality is a function of loss. The better the quality, the less costly the loss it causes to society.

Setup Reduction
Reducing the amount of time that a machine or process is down during the changeover from the last good piece
of one product to the first good piece of the next product.

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)

An approach that aims at maximizing equipment effectiveness and reducing downtime due to failures and
repairs. This ensures that each machine in a production process is able to perform at its optimal efficiency
throughout the lifespan of the equipment, resulting in production never being interrupted.

Transportation
The movement of materials from one area to another. One of the 7 Wastes.

www.uttana.com info@uttana.com