--- title: Fueling Growth Through Lean Manufacturing description: Sometimes, growing your business means getting lean. What wastes commonly plague manufacturing and distribution operations? How can UNEX help reduce them? image: https://blog.unex.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/toyotetsu-flow-rack-1.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.unex.com/fueling-growth-through-lean#main-content) [![UNEX-logo-1](https://blog.unex.com/hs-fs/hubfs/UNEX-logo-1.png?width=170&height=53&name=UNEX-logo-1.png "UNEX-logo-1")](https://www.unex.com/) - [Applications](https://www.unex.com/applications) - Storage - [Warehouse Storage](https://www.unex.com/applications/storage/warehouse-storage) - [Storage for 3PLs](https://www.unex.com/applications/storage/storage-3pls) - [Retail Storage Solutions](https://www.unex.com/applications/storage/retail-storage) - [Lineside Storage](https://www.unex.com/applications/packing-assembly/lineside-storage) - [Beverage Storage](https://www.unex.com/applications/storage/beverage-storage) - [Keg Storage](https://www.unex.com/applications/storage/keg-storage) - Picking - [Order Picking](https://www.unex.com/applications/picking/order-picking) - [Case Picking](https://www.unex.com/applications/picking/case-picking) - [Each Picking](https://www.unex.com/applications/picking/each-picking) - [Picking Carts](https://www.unex.com/applications/picking/picking-carts) - [Pick Module](https://www.unex.com/applications/picking/pick-module) - Packing & Assembly - [Industrial Carts](https://www.unex.com/applications/packing-assembly/industrial-carts) - [Packing Stations](https://www.unex.com/applications/packing-assembly/packing-station) - [Industrial Workstations](https://www.unex.com/applications/packing-assembly/industrial-workstations) - [Manufacturing Supermarkets](https://www.unex.com/applications/packing-assembly/manufacturing-supermarkets) - [Solutions](https://www.unex.com/solutions) - [Carton Flow](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow) - [SpanTrack Lane](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow/spantrack-lane) - [SpanTrack Wheel Bed](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow/spantrack-wheel-bed) - [SpanTrack Keg Flow](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow/spantrack-keg-flow) - [Shelf Track](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow/shelf-track) - [Flow Racks](https://www.unex.com/solutions/flow-racks) - [FlowCell](https://www.unex.com/solutions/flow-racks/flowcell) - [Roller Rack](https://www.unex.com/solutions/flow-racks/roller-rack) - [High-Density Storage](https://www.unex.com/solutions/high-density-storage) - [SpeedCell](https://www.unex.com/solutions/high-density-storage/speedcell) - [SpeedCartt](https://www.unex.com/solutions/high-density-storage/speedcartt) - [Pick Shelves](https://www.unex.com/solutions/high-density-storage/pick-shelves) - [Conveyors](https://www.unex.com/solutions/conveyors) - [Gravity Conveyor](https://www.unex.com/solutions/conveyors/gravity-conveyors) - [Pallet Track](https://www.unex.com/solutions/conveyors/pallet-track) - [About](https://www.unex.com/about) - [Resources](https://www.unex.com/resources) - [Blog](https://blog.unex.com) - [Press Releases](https://blog.unex.com/press-releases) - [Guides](https://www.unex.com/resources/guides) - [Product Brochures](https://www.unex.com/resources/product-brochures) - [Installation Guides](https://www.unex.com/resources/installation-guides) - [Case Studies](https://www.unex.com/resources/case-studies) - [FAQs](https://go.unex.com/faq) [Contact Us](https://www.unex.com/contact) [Build a Solution](https://www.unex.com/configurator) - [Applications](https://www.unex.com/applications) - Storage - [Warehouse Storage](https://www.unex.com/applications/storage/warehouse-storage) - [Storage for 3PLs](https://www.unex.com/applications/storage/storage-3pls) - [Retail Storage Solutions](https://www.unex.com/applications/storage/retail-storage) - [Lineside Storage](https://www.unex.com/applications/packing-assembly/lineside-storage) - [Beverage Storage](https://www.unex.com/applications/storage/beverage-storage) - [Keg Storage](https://www.unex.com/applications/storage/keg-storage) - Picking - [Order Picking](https://www.unex.com/applications/picking/order-picking) - [Case Picking](https://www.unex.com/applications/picking/case-picking) - [Each Picking](https://www.unex.com/applications/picking/each-picking) - [Picking Carts](https://www.unex.com/applications/picking/picking-carts) - [Pick Module](https://www.unex.com/applications/picking/pick-module) - Packing & Assembly - [Industrial Carts](https://www.unex.com/applications/packing-assembly/industrial-carts) - [Packing Stations](https://www.unex.com/applications/packing-assembly/packing-station) - [Industrial Workstations](https://www.unex.com/applications/packing-assembly/industrial-workstations) - [Manufacturing Supermarkets](https://www.unex.com/applications/packing-assembly/manufacturing-supermarkets) - [Solutions](https://www.unex.com/solutions) - [Carton Flow](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow) - [SpanTrack Lane](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow/spantrack-lane) - [SpanTrack Wheel Bed](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow/spantrack-wheel-bed) - [SpanTrack Keg Flow](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow/spantrack-keg-flow) - [Shelf Track](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow/shelf-track) - [Flow Racks](https://www.unex.com/solutions/flow-racks) - [FlowCell](https://www.unex.com/solutions/flow-racks/flowcell) - [Roller Rack](https://www.unex.com/solutions/flow-racks/roller-rack) - [High-Density Storage](https://www.unex.com/solutions/high-density-storage) - [SpeedCell](https://www.unex.com/solutions/high-density-storage/speedcell) - [SpeedCartt](https://www.unex.com/solutions/high-density-storage/speedcartt) - [Pick Shelves](https://www.unex.com/solutions/high-density-storage/pick-shelves) - [Conveyors](https://www.unex.com/solutions/conveyors) - [Gravity Conveyor](https://www.unex.com/solutions/conveyors/gravity-conveyors) - [Pallet Track](https://www.unex.com/solutions/conveyors/pallet-track) - [About](https://www.unex.com/about) - [Resources](https://www.unex.com/resources) - [Blog](https://blog.unex.com) - [Press Releases](https://blog.unex.com/press-releases) - [Guides](https://www.unex.com/resources/guides) - [Product Brochures](https://www.unex.com/resources/product-brochures) - [Installation Guides](https://www.unex.com/resources/installation-guides) - [Case Studies](https://www.unex.com/resources/case-studies) - [FAQs](https://go.unex.com/faq) [Contact Us](https://www.unex.com/contact) [Build a Solution](https://www.unex.com/configurator) # Fueling Growth Through Lean Manufacturing In today’s competitive environment, smart companies are fueling growth through leaner operations. Adopting lean manufacturing practices, which focus on the elimination of waste throughout the enterprise, create cost savings while establishing an environment of continuous improvement. ![Lean manufacturing](https://blog.unex.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/toyotetsu-flow-rack-1.png?width=600&name=toyotetsu-flow-rack-1.png) Companies undergoing a lean manufacturing transformation must first understand that this is a journey, not a quick fix. It is not a process to reduce head count, substitute poor quality materials or close a facility. Instead, manufacturers and distributors who partake in lean programs must focus on implementing [lean manufacturing principles](https://blog.unex.com/five-principles-of-lean-manufacturing) in all areas of the enterprise, from raw materials to the production floor to the warehouse to last mile delivery. There are eight wastes (something that doesn’t add value) within a manufacturing company that you can focus on toward your lean journey. ## 8 Wastes in Manufacturing 1. **Transport** - Moving people, products, and information. 2. **Inventory** - Storinh parts, pieces, documentation ahead of requirements. 3. **Motion** - Bending, turning, reaching, and lifting. 4. **Waiting** - For parts, information, instructions, and equipment. 5. **Overproduction** - Making more than is immediately required. 6. **Over-processing** - Tighter tolerances or higher grade materials than are necessary. 7. **Defects** - Rework, scrap, or incorrect documentation. 8. **Skills** - Under-utilizing capabilities or delegating tasks with inadequate training. [![Save Space - Read the Lean Manufacturing Storage Guidebook](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4747213/e1348ccd-d352-4e91-a09c-354b7949d130.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4747213/e1348ccd-d352-4e91-a09c-354b7949d130) ## Lean Manufacturing Fuels Growth To increase profits and fuel growth, manufacturers and distributors need to remove all elements of waste within their processes. Solutions from UNEX Manufacturing can help operations deal with several of these wastes, such as transport and motion.\\ Many order pickers have to walk up and down aisles for hours a day, equating to several miles a day. Placing products closer to pickers on storage shelves or using [carton flow systems](https://www.unex.com/product/span-track-lane/) like UNEX's Span-Track can help condense storage and allow workers to pick more items from a much smaller area. This can drastically reduce transport wastes. The unnecessary movement of having to bend down to retrieve objects at floor level when they could be fed at waist level can reduce movements and stress on the body. Bringing [goods-to-person](https://www.unex.com/each-order-picking-with-goods-to-person/), via [conveyors](https://www.unex.com/products/gravity-conveyor/) or [tilted shelves](https://www.unex.com/products/pick-shelves/) that slide replacement products forward as the front product is picked, reduces worker movement in the warehouse and reins in wasted motion. All of these wasteful activities cost you time, money and cause stress on workers. Fine-tuning the warehouse with a more efficient layout and better-utilized resources streamlines inventory and reduces warehouse space requirements. Keeping inventory organized in UNEX [Flow Cell workstations](https://www.unex.com/products/flow-cell/) maximizes pick efficiency by minimizing reach and is a great step for eliminating waste on your lean journey. ** Find out how UNEX solutions can help your operation run lean and mean by [connecting with our experts. ](https://www.unex.com/contact/)** [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4747213/e7dbdfb8-91d0-48bf-8ef3-19a042da780c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4747213/e7dbdfb8-91d0-48bf-8ef3-19a042da780c) [Manufacturing](https://blog.unex.com/tag/manufacturing) [FlowCell](https://blog.unex.com/tag/flowcell) ## Related Blogs ![packing stations for order fulfillment](https://blog.unex.com/hubfs/UNEX-HelloFresh-1095.jpg) ### Packing Stations 101: What They Are and Why They Matter in Order Fulfillment [Read More](https://blog.unex.com/packing-stations-101-what-they-are-and-why-they-matter-in-order-fulfillment) ![flowcell flexible manufacturing workstation](https://blog.unex.com/hubfs/flowcell-modular-workstation.jpg) ### Key Features of a Flexible Manufacturing Workstation [Read More](https://blog.unex.com/key-features-of-a-flexible-manufacturing-workstation) [![UNEX-logo](https://blog.unex.com/hs-fs/hubfs/UNEX-logo.png?width=154&height=48&name=UNEX-logo.png "UNEX-logo")](https://blog.unex.com/) - - [Applications](https://www.unex.com/applications) - [Storage](https://blog.unex.com/applications#storage) - [Order Picking](https://blog.unex.com/applications#picking) - [Packing & Assembly](https://blog.unex.com/applications#packing) - [Solutions](https://www.unex.com/solutions) - [Carton Flow](https://www.unex.com/solutions/carton-flow) - [Flow Racks](https://www.unex.com/solutions/flow-racks) - [High-Density Storage](https://www.unex.com/solutions/high-density-storage) - [Conveyors](https://www.unex.com/solutions/conveyors) - - Industries - [Manufacturing](https://www.unex.com/industries/manufacturing) - [Order Fulfillment & Warehousing](https://www.unex.com/industries/order-fulfillment-warehousing) - [Retail](https://www.unex.com/industries/retail) - [Logistics](https://www.unex.com/industries/logistics) - [About](https://www.unex.com/about) - [Find a Distributor](https://go.unex.com/find-material-handling-distributor) - [Distributor Portal](https://go.unex.com/distributors) - [Careers](https://go.unex.com/careers) - - [Build a Solution](https://www.unex.com/configurator) - [Contact Us](https://www.unex.com/contact) - [Resources](https://www.unex.com/resources) [800-334-8639](tel:8003348639) 691 New Hampshire Ave Lakewood, NJ 08701 [Privacy Policy](https://www.unex.com/legal/privacy-policy)|[Terms of Service](https://www.unex.com/legal/terms-service) [Sitemap](https://www.unex.com/sitemap)|[Warranty](https://www.unex.com/legal/warranty) © UNEX Manufacturing. 2026 All Rights Reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "UNEX", "url" : "https://blog.unex.com/author/unex" }, "dateModified" : "2023-07-11T17:20:52.236Z", "datePublished" : "2016-04-13T18:15:39.000Z", "headline" : "Fueling Growth Through Lean Manufacturing", "image" : [ "https://blog.unex.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/toyotetsu-flow-rack-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.unex.com/fueling-growth-through-lean", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.unex.com/hubfs/unex_logo_061013_RGB_Medium-1.jpg" }, "name" : "UNEX Manufacturing Inc" } } ```