--- title: How Training Will Improve Your Lean Manufacturing description: For Lean manufacturing to be successful, training is critical. Here are 4 areas to consider for a training program to help you build a Lean-enabled workforce. image: https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAFxiMxu9x8.png --- Learn more about how to choose the right ERP with our ERP Evaluations Series. [Learn More.](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) - [Home](https://www.teamacuity.biz/) - Software - [SAP Business One](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one) - [SAP Business One and AWS](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one-and-aws) - [Wisys Supply Chain Management](https://www.teamacuity.biz/wisys) - Services - [Success Methodology](https://www.teamacuity.biz/success-methodology) - [Consulting](https://www.teamacuity.biz/consulting) - [On-Going Support](https://www.teamacuity.biz/ongoing-support) - About - [About Acuity](https://www.teamacuity.biz/about-acuity) - [Careers](https://www.teamacuity.biz/careers) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Blog](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) - [Contact](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact-us) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) - [Home](https://www.teamacuity.biz/) - Software - [SAP Business One](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one) - [SAP Business One and AWS](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one-and-aws) - [Wisys Supply Chain Management](https://www.teamacuity.biz/wisys) - Services - [Success Methodology](https://www.teamacuity.biz/success-methodology) - [Consulting](https://www.teamacuity.biz/consulting) - [On-Going Support](https://www.teamacuity.biz/ongoing-support) - About - [About Acuity](https://www.teamacuity.biz/about-acuity) - [Careers](https://www.teamacuity.biz/careers) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Blog](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) - [Contact](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact-us) [![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png?width=166&height=89&name=file-1511926966.png "logo-top")](https://www.teamacuity.biz) [Training](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/training) [lean manufacturing](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/lean-manufacturing) # How Training Will Improve Your Lean Manufacturing By [Joseph Timmins](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) June 22, 2017 1 Minute Read For Lean to be a success in your company, training is critical. Here are four areas to consider for your current training program to help you build a Lean-enabled workforce. ## Increased Customer Value One of the primary principles of [Lean manufacturing](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/what-is-lean-manufacturing) is increased customer value. Employees involved in training should be taught who your customers are and what they expect; that way, the employees will understand how their jobs relate to customers. By keeping a focus on customer needs (price, delivery, service, quality, etc.), your people will stay in line with company goals, leading to the best possible results. ## Waste Reduction One of the most common ways Lean manufacturers provide additional value for their customers is by identifying and reducing waste within business processes. Trainers can assist with this by teaching well-known Lean tools such as value stream mapping. A value stream mapping exercise identifies and targets wasteful activities for elimination. In addition, waste reduction is consistent with customer value (above). ## Empowering Employees![business people group with headphones giving support in help desk office to customers, manager giving training and education instructions.jpeg](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/business%20people%20group%20with%20%20headphones%20giving%20support%20in%20%20help%20desk%20office%20to%20customers%2c%20manager%20giving%20training%20and%20education%20instructions.jpeg?width=361&name=business%20people%20group%20with%20%20headphones%20giving%20support%20in%20%20help%20desk%20office%20to%20customers%2c%20manager%20giving%20training%20and%20education%20instructions.jpeg) Lean encourages employees to eliminate waste and provide suggestions to increase efficiency, allowing them to be active participants and take ownership. It’s important for trainers to involve workers; things like Kaizen events are great vehicles to achieve this. Training sessions should include question/answer sessions, practice examples, and content requests. The more actively involved your employees are in their training, the more effective your results will be. ## Continuous Improvement Continuous improvement is fundamental to Lean. It involves ongoing analysis and seeking employee insight to further reduce waste; this will lead to better processes and more customer satisfaction. Training programs should introduce measurement tools to track improvements between the old way and the new way. Examples of KPIs (key performance indicators) are lead times, reject rates, inventory turns, number of process steps, and percentage of value-adding activities. [This information can be extracted from the right ERP system.](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/how-erp-software-supports-your-lean-journey) [![Critical Things ERP System Webinar ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/420229/4a8d9da8-9643-4698-8f97-db3810995775.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/420229/4a8d9da8-9643-4698-8f97-db3810995775) Forward-thinking companies recognize that better training results in happier employees who take pride in their work. These employees, when armed with Lean knowledge, will begin to incorporate beneficial – and more importantly, measurable – improvements into their everyday work habits. An ERP system that provides relevant data for improvement tracking is critical. Is your business looking for a better ERP system that supports Lean and empowers your people? If so, let the experts at Acuity help you get started! [Contact us](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact) today for more information. #### Joseph Timmins Author ## Recommended For You [![](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAFxitrzOZA.png)](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/user-enablement/-fast-training-with-your-new-enterprise-resource-planning-erp-system) 1 Min Read ### [User Enablement/ Fast Training with your New Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/user-enablement/-fast-training-with-your-new-enterprise-resource-planning-erp-system) [Joseph Timmins June 9, 2022](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) [![The ROI of Training 2: Training Fosters Job Satisfaction](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/Portrait%20of%20a%20happy%20casual%20businesswoman%20in%20sweater%20sitting%20at%20her%20workplace%20in%20office-1.jpeg)](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/the-roi-of-training-2-training-fosters-job-satisfaction) [Training](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/training) 1 Min Read ### [The ROI of Training 2: Training Fosters Job Satisfaction](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/the-roi-of-training-2-training-fosters-job-satisfaction) [Joseph Timmins March 2, 2016](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) [![The ROI of Training: Training Makes Your Business Run Better](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Acuity-_The_Incalculable_ROI_of_Training_image-1.jpg)](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/the-roi-of-training-training-makes-your-business-run-better) [ERP Solutions](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/erp-solutions) [Training](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/topic/training) 2 Min Read ### [The ROI of Training: Training Makes Your Business Run Better](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/the-roi-of-training-training-makes-your-business-run-better) [Joseph Timmins February 25, 2016](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog/author/joseph-timmins) ![logo-top](https://www.teamacuity.biz/hs-fs/hub/420229/file-1511926966.png) 125 Whipple Street Providence, Rhode Island 02908 [401.243.8480](tel:401-243-8480) 877.361.6534 [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.twitter.com) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com) - [Home](https://www.teamacuity.biz/) - Software - [SAP Business One](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one) - [SAP Business One and AWS](https://www.teamacuity.biz/sap-business-one-and-aws) - [Wisys Supply Chain Management](https://www.teamacuity.biz/wisys) - Services - [Success Methodology](https://www.teamacuity.biz/success-methodology) - [Consulting](https://www.teamacuity.biz/consulting) - [On-Going Support](https://www.teamacuity.biz/ongoing-support) - About - [About Acuity](https://www.teamacuity.biz/about-acuity) - [Careers](https://www.teamacuity.biz/careers) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Resources](https://www.teamacuity.biz/resources-section) - [Blog](https://www.teamacuity.biz/blog) - [Contact](https://www.teamacuity.biz/contact-us)