6 Reasons why Lean is Important for SMEs
Plus 2 Quotes by Masaaki Imai and 1 Quiz to kindle your thoughts.
1 Article for the Week:
There are so many day-to-day issues facing the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Cost Pressures, Trained manpower, Poor Productivity, Lack of technology are some of the few issues. With these issues, it would be difficult for the companies to compete with large players.
In these tough times, Lean Mfg would be a key advantage for the SMEs.
Here’s why Indian SMEs need Lean now:
Stretch Every Rupee: With tight budgets, Lean cuts waste—be it excess raw materials, idle machines, or rework—freeing up funds for expansion or innovation.
Compete with Big Players: Lean helps SMEs match the speed and quality of larger firms, winning customers in markets like automotive or textiles where efficiency is king.
Boost Margins in a Price-Sensitive Market: By slashing inefficiencies, Lean lifts profits—crucial when Indian customers demand value for every paisa spent.
Upskill Local Talent: Lean trains workers to solve problems, turning small teams into powerhouse innovators
Handle Demand Swings: From festive season spikes to monsoon slumps, Lean’s flexibility keeps production aligned with India’s unpredictable demand cycles.
Survive Economic Pressures: With inflation and global supply chain woes, Lean builds resilience, helping SMEs stay afloat when margins are squeezed.
For Indian SMEs, Lean isn’t just a strategy—it’s a lifeline. Take a Gujarat textile unit or a Pune auto parts maker: a 10% productivity boost could mean more orders, happier clients, and a stronger foothold. Skip Lean, and you risk losing ground to competitors—local or global—who’ve already embraced it. Ready to go Lean? Your edge awaits!
Lean manufacturing is no longer optional; it’s essential for survival and success.
Contact us to kickstart lean implementation in your company.
2 Quotes for the Week - by Masaaki Imai
“Quality begins when everybody in the organization commits to never sending rejects or imperfect information to the next process.”
5 Rules of Lean Management: 1.When a problem (abnormality) arises, go to the gemba first. 2. Check the gembutsu (“relevant objects”). 3. Take temporary countermeasures on the spot. 4. Find the root cause. 5. Standardize to prevent recurrence. Go”
1 Quiz for the Week:
What is Source Inspection?
Checking the product by the operator once produced
Checking the product by the next operator
Checking the process parameters before the operation to fix the errors
Checking the product by Inspection team before sending to the Customer
Answer the question and get featured in our next week newsletter.
Congratulations to Mr. Shibu Chandraguru for answering the last week’s quiz.
Checking the product by Inspection team before sending to the Customer