Lean design is about maximising the value that a customer receives and at the same time minimis-ing waste in delivering that value.
For an organisation to be ‘lean’ it must have had all non-essential resources removed (ie. anything that does not add value, see below). This is efficient and cost effective, in that the value/supply chain can theoretically do exactly what is needed of it and no more, but requires sound forecasting and planning of demand and supply. It is most suitable for industries with stable product specifications, long lead times and few impulse purchases.
Organisations which are ‘agile’ react as quickly as is practicable to provide a cost effective response to customer demand. This is based on flexibility in design, supply, production and distribution. It is most appropriate for products such as fast fashion and foodstuffs which must be on display and available when wanted by the customer.
[Reference:, - CIPS study guide page 153-156, - Agile Supply (cips.org), LO 3, AC 3.3]
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