How to Improve Your Productivity Using Lean Thinking. Lean thinking is a management philosophy and approach originally developed in the manufacturing sector but applicable across various industries. It focuses on creating value by eliminating waste, improving processes, and enhancing efficiency. Here’s an overview of key concepts in lean thinking: Principles of Lean Thinking Value: Define what is valuable to the customer. This helps in focusing efforts on activities that directly contribute to customer satisfaction. Value Stream: Map out all the steps in a process to identify which ones add value and which ones don’t. The goal is to eliminate or streamline non-value-adding steps. Flow: Ensure that the process flows smoothly without interruptions or delays. This involves organizing work so that tasks proceed sequentially without bottlenecks. Pull: Implement a pull system where production is driven by customer demand rather than pushing products or services based on forecasts. Perfection: Continuously strive for perfection by continually assessing and improving processes to eliminate waste and enhance value.