In Lean thinking, what should companies primarily assess?

In Lean thinking, the primary focus is on maximizing value delivered to the customer. This approach emphasizes understanding what customers truly want and aligning organizational processes to meet those needs effectively. By concentrating on customer value, companies can eliminate waste, improve quality, and enhance overall efficiency, leading to a more competitive business model.

This customer-centric perspective ensures that every activity within the organization is scrutinized for its contribution to delivering value, driving continuous improvement efforts, and fostering innovation that aligns with customer requirements. It encourages companies to engage with customers directly to gain insights into their preferences and pain points, allowing for adjustments and enhancements to products or services that more closely match customer expectations.

While other aspects such as employee satisfaction, operational efficiency, and production speed are important in their own right, they serve primarily as means to support the overarching goal of delivering greater value to the customer. Ultimately, a Lean organization is defined by its commitment to understanding and serving customer needs as the top priority.