It focused on eliminating waste and empowering workers, reduced inventory and improved productivity. Instead of maintaining resources in anticipation of what might be required for future manufacturing. By maximizing the use of multi-skilled employees, the company is able to flatten their management structure and focus resources in a flexible manner. Because the company is able make changes quickly, they were often able to respond faster to market demands than their competitors could.

The ten rules of lean production can be summarized:

1. Eliminate waste 
2. Minimize inventory 
3. Maximize flow 
4. Pull production from customer demand 
5. Meet customer requirements 
6. Do it right the first time 
7. Empower workers 
8. Design for rapid changeover 
9. Partner with suppliers 
10. Create a culture of continuous improvement