{"id":452,"date":"2021-12-29T16:46:09","date_gmt":"2021-12-29T16:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/billyschofield.ie\/?p=452"},"modified":"2023-11-02T09:40:49","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T09:40:49","slug":"the-links-between-buddhism-and-lean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/billyschofield.ie\/?p=452","title":{"rendered":"The links between Buddhism and lean"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo by Emily KenCairn of Apiary Studio<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today lean is a popular and ubiquitous process improvement philosophy. The origins of lean can be traced back to Toyota\u2019s production system, which Toyota developed to achieve more yet use fewer resources, and even further back to the family company Toyoda, which went on the form Toyota. Today in a post COP26 world, many companies are very focused on improving their resource efficiency, and lean continues to be a highly effective and popular system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some lean followers assume a devoted approach; lean seems like a faith for them. In the 1990\u2019s Womack, Jones and Roos\u2019s essential book popularised lean. And lean has gone from strength to strength ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones, Daniel Roos, 1990. The machine that changed the world:<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Today, lean principles are universally accepted and have resulted in a metanoia in opinion, changing the thinking and attitude to workplace problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With its deep roots in Japanese manufacturing culture, lean can be viewed as an extension of Japanese Buddhism. Japanese Buddhism is based on meticulous self-control and its application in life, especially for the benefit of others, and seeking the discipline to improve constantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This focus on self-discipline is often manifested in regular ritual cleaning and tidying. The lean 5S approach to workplace organisation parallels this discipline of tidying and cleaning. In the 5S system, workers are encouraged to sort, set, shine, standardise and sustain their workplaces\u2014a very Zen practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other aspects of lean can be paralleled to Buddhism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Own illustration adapted from (Chiarini, Baccarani and Mascherpa, 2018)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Japanese Buddhism does not separate self from the environment. Cleaning and tidying express respect for and a sense of connectivity with the surrounding universe.<\/p>Shoukei Matsumoto<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

It seems good mental health practice to apply some of these rituals and start by taking personal reasonability for our surroundings and putting some order to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lean and Buddhism are fundamentally linked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always have respect for spiritual matters and remember to be always grateful.<\/p>Toyoda Precept.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Bibliography links<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lean and Zen Buddhism<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/2018\/jan\/05\/buddhist-monk-cleaning-good-for-you<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/culture\/cultural-comment\/the-long-history-of-japans-tidying-up<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lean production, Toyota Production System and Kaizen philosophy: A conceptual analysis from the perspective of Zen Buddhism | Emerald Insight<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Story of Sakichi Toyoda | Toyota Industries Corporation (toyota-industries.com)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lean production, Toyota Production System and Kaizen philosophy: A conceptual analysis from the perspective of Zen Buddhism | Emerald Insight<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiarini, A., Baccarani, C. and Mascherpa, V., 2018. Lean production, Toyota Production System and Kaizen philosophy: A conceptual analysis from the perspective of Zen Buddhism. The TQM Journal<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photo by Emily KenCairn of Apiary Studio on Unsplash Today lean is a popular and ubiquitous process improvement philosophy. The origins of lean can be traced back to Toyota\u2019s production system, which Toyota developed to achieve more yet use fewer resources, and even further back to the family company Toyoda,…<\/p>\n

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