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1910: Start of mass production
Henry Ford introduces the assembly line, a precursor to lean manufacturing, for automobile production. -
1948: Development of the Toyota Production System (TPS)
Toyota began developing the TPS after World War II, adapting it to the needs and limitations of postwar Japanese industry. -
1950s: Taichi Ohno and the Fundamentals of TPS
Taichi Ohno, a Toyota engineer, plays a fundamental role in the creation and development of the TPS, introducing concepts such as just-in-time (JIT) and waste elimination. -
1973: Publication of "The Machine That Changed the World"
This book popularizes the term "lean production" and analyzes Toyota's success, inspiring many Western companies to adopt similar practices. -
1980s: Expansion of Lean Manufacturing in the West
Many Western companies begin to adopt and implement lean manufacturing principles after realizing their effectiveness in improving productivity and reducing costs. -
1990: Publication of "Lean Thinking"
James P. Womack and Daniel T. Jones expand on the concepts of "The Machine That Changed the World," providing a detailed framework for implementing lean manufacturing in various industries. -
1990s-2000s: Lean Six Sigma Integration
The combination of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma becomes common, providing additional tools for continuous improvement and reduction of variability in processes. -
2000s-2010s: Application of Lean in Various Industries
Lean manufacturing is applied in health services, logistics, administration and software development, in addition to the manufacturing industry. -
2011: Publication of "The Lean Startup"
Eric Ries applies the principles of lean manufacturing to the world of startups and product development, popularizing the concept of the "lean startup." -
Present: Continued Evolution of Lean Manufacturing
Lean manufacturing continues to adapt to changes in technology, globalization and market demands, maintaining its focus on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.