The lenses of lean: Visioning the science and practice of efficiency

Abstract There is a significant gap between the descriptions of Lean used by industry practitioners and the various bodies of academic research that have studied the theory and application of Lean. There is also a gap between applied research on Lean and basic research in the mathematical, physical and social sciences. As a result, Lean practice is based largely on trial‐and‐error experience while potentially valuable research results remain locked away unused in archival journals. This paper attempts to close these gaps by describing four “Lenses of Lean,” each of which aligns with a practical perspective and rests on a distinct body of conceptual research. Our hope is that this framework will provide a useful construct for Lean training and implementation and will also spur academic research that is relevant to advancing Lean practice.