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Taiichi Ohno and Shigeo Shingo laid the foundation for what would later be known as Lean Manufacturing at Toyota Motor Corporation.
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Toyota refined its production methods, emphasizing waste reduction, continuous improvement, and respect for people.
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Western companies like General Motors and Ford began adopting Lean principles in response to competition from Japanese manufacturers.
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James Womack, Daniel Jones, and Daniel Roos coin the term "Lean" in their book "The Machine That Changed the World," popularizing Lean Manufacturing outside of Japan.
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Lean manufacturing becomes mainstream: Many industries, including aerospace, healthcare, and electronics, adopt Lean principles to improve efficiency and quality.
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Lean Enterprise Institute (LEI) founded: LEI was established to promote Lean thinking and provide resources for organizations implementing Lean principles.
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Lean Six Sigma integration: Many companies began integrating Lean principles with Six Sigma methodologies to achieve even greater efficiency and quality improvements.
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Toyota's management principles, emphasizing continuous improvement and respect for people, became influential worldwide.
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Industry 4.0 technologies, such as automation, data analytics, and IoT, are integrated into Lean Manufacturing to further enhance productivity and agility.
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Lean principles continue to evolve, adapting to changing market demands, technological advancements, and global challenges such as sustainability and resilience.