Lean Principle - Deciding as Late as Possible

@Sergio, from what I understand, Lean differs from JIT in that it assesses customer value at each step of the manufacturing (or production) process.

I believe JIT is an element of Lean, but to be honest I have seen so many versions of lean concept applications that it's hard to remember what comes from where.

Whether it is the manufacturing shop floor, or the office environment, the concept of push or pull systems, reducing excess inventory and work in progress still apply, but differently. In one case you are producing some physical object, in the other you are producing the instructions to build the physical object.

JIT is a pillar inside Toyota TPS (because provides stability to it). To simplify things it can be visualized as an inventory management method. It was taken from Ford when Toyota owner went to Ford Mottos Company before the second world war. As you know, Lean was created (included the name) inside the MIT when the MIT adquire the rights of TPS. The problem is some people use TPS and JIT as synonims and that is totally wrong. Not because I am saying that. Because when you work in Toyota or you read the original papers that are available inside Toyota web site you will see that. You can take Lean and apply it to JIT. I mean, Lean is a set of principles that you can use with any method, for example JIT.

Keith, I feel the same. Just as well there is no hard and fast rule for what it is, unlike with Srcum

Thanks for that insight Sergio.

You are welcome. Just a little understanding of the basement can help to make the difference when you try to use it in the field. In my experience, I saw how the use of different tecniques/tools that belongs to different methods/approaches because they best fit for the strategy to follow can help organizations to gain in competitive adventage.