TOOLS OF LEAN PRODUCTION METHODOLOGY AS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF OPTIMIZATION OF ENTERPRISE ACTIVITY

Abstract

The article reveals the essence and importance of lean manufacturingconcept, identified its main components. To achieve the goals of leanproduction is impossible without compliance with its basic principles,application of methods and tools. On the basis of experience ofimplementation of lean production by Japanese and Western researchers it is systematized the tools of the methodology, highlighting the advantages, problems and limitations in the use of basic methods that can be successfully applied in the process of restructuring existing industries, and during the construction of new economical ventures. It is established that the tools of the methodology of lean production in practice allow to achieve a significant reduction in resource cost with constant quality of production in comparison with the traditional approach and significantly reduce the production cycle of converting raw materials into finished product and significantly reduce the time of marketing.Our analysis showed that the raw materials from which products aremade on traditional enterprises may be stored in warehouses for weeks or even months, while the process of their conversion, that is adding value, mostly measured in minutes or hours. Still, the production cycle of the products can last quite a long period from days to weeks or more,significantly affects the financial component of activity of the enterprise. The concept of lean production can significantly reduce the cycle time andminimize inventory and WIP, resulting in significantly increase theproductivity of the enterprise and its competitiveness.On the basis of the conducted researches it is established that thesystem of lean production, which the company focuses on long termdevelopment, will work effectively only if it will be a process of reorientation of the thinking of employees of narrow problems in understanding the whole production process and the vision of a common goal. Unlike other  management techniques, focused on strict regulation of the activities, the tools of the methodology of lean production allow to involve in the process optimization staff at all levels. Installed, in modern conditions for successful and competitive businesses the lean production philosophy should become a corporate culture and way of thinking of each employee.