As is widely known, Lean Manufacturing originated in Japan and was later systematized in the United States. What, then, was the context in which Lean Manufacturing emerged? After World War II, Japan's automotive industry faced constraints due to resource shortages and the need for high-mix, low-volume production. The mass production lines of that era led to inventory buildup. In response, Toyota Motor Corporation embarked on a path of continuous exploration, ultimately forging a new approach—an early form of Lean Manufacturing known as zero inventory.

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