What does LEAN management mean to you?

To minimize the cost of poor quality , Lean managenet target is : to get cost of poor quality = ZERO

Lean production may have a significant public good spillover—improved environmental performance. However, empirical evidence of the link between lean production practices and environmental performance has not resolved the nature of the relationship. To explore this issue, we conduct an empirical analysis of the environmental performance of17,499 U.S. manufacturing establishments during the time period1991–1996. We find that those establishments that adopt the quality management standard ISO9000 are more likely to adopt the environmental management standard ISO14000. We also find strong evidence that lean production, as measured by ISO9000 adoption and low chemical inventories, is complementary to waste reduction and pollution reduction.

Dear Mr. Gaber, Thanks for you respons.

To me LEAN management is taking out the non value time in a process. Or as you put it, take out the costs that don't ad quality. Thank you.

Lean Management is the effort in reducing the wastes in a system. This can be developed by value engineering, inventory control, buffer control, cost reduction without compromising the safety and quality. Understanding the upstream accurately and optimally producing the downstream without any compromises is  Lean Management according to me. 

Means modifying and product development