Fundamental Concepts of Lean and Agile Manufacturing

To stay competitive in a world of heightened uncertainty, manufacturers are continually designing and redesigning their production, supply chain networks, and logistics systems. Lean and agile manufacturing play a particularly key role in this by focusing on the reduction in cycle-time, lowering manufacturing costs and reducing inventory. The goal of lean and nimble manufacturing is to create a better product value to satisfy customer demands, while at the same time optimizing the efficiency of the entire supply chain. This chapter focusses on the evolution of lean and agile manufacturing concepts, objectives, and principles. The history and chronological developments and applications in the manufacturing sector, especially fashion industry, will be covered. The chapter will also discuss the differences between the two concepts: lean and agile manufacturing.