Adherence to lean principles is considered a precondition for success in modern manufacturing. In a resource-intensive environment, anything that improves efficiency and productivity is a godsend. Lean maintenance has become more prominent as manufacturers grapple with sustainability challenges, economic instability, and global competition.

There is a common misconception that lean maintenance is just a subset, or a byproduct, of adopting lean practices. In reality, the opposite is true; to succeed in lean manufacturing, you first need to implement lean maintenance. In other words, lean maintenance is a critical prerequisite for lean manufacturing.

This article will introduce you to the basics of lean maintenance and how to adopt its principles at your organization.

What is lean maintenance?

Lean maintenance is a strategy that aims to reduce waste and inefficiency in the management of physical assets. It relies on the application of lean methodology in the realm of asset maintenance and repairs.

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