Lean Engineering: Doing the Right Thing Right

Lean techniques are having a major impact on aerospace manufacturing. However, the cost and value of aerospace (and many other) products is determined primarily in product development. Migrating lean to engineering processes is ongoing in the industry, and a subject of study at the MIT Lean Aerospace Initiative. This paper summarizes findings to date, with references to both research literature and successful implementation examples. To implement lean engineering, a three-part approach is needed: Creating the right products, with effective lifecycle and enterprise integration, using efficient engineering processes.