Conclusions
The dramatic performance improvements
available by following lean, low waste principles
are well established in high volume,
relatively low variety situations. Many companies
aspire to achieve equal, or better, levels of
performance and are therefore keen to adopt
lean practices. However, the lean formula is
applicable directly only to a small proportion
of manufacturers: most companies must
carefully judge which lean practices they can
use immediately and which need to be adapted
to meet their special circumstances. This
paper has outlined the barriers which many
HVLV organizations see as impediments to
applying LM principles in their operations.
We have shown how these principles can be
adapted to suit the requirements and the
challenges such companies face. We have also
identified the specific advantages inherent
within HVLVs which can be exploited and
have illustrated how they are being applied
within companies.