In January 2010, Finance & Facilities (F2) began using Lean as a comprehensive approach to:

• Find ways to become even more flexible, efficient, and customer focused
• Build a shared culture, beginning with common tools and vocabulary
• Improve core processes by eliminating waste, redundancy and rework
• Transition to a new and sustainable business model to address changing demands and reduced budgets
• Build upon existing improvement work within F2, including the use of balanced scorecard methodology, operational-dashboard measures, quality and process improvement fundamentals, recognition, and teamwork
• Provide a better work environment for all

See official announcement by Senior Vice President V'Ella Warren

What is Lean?

In their book, "Lean Thinking," James P. Womack & Daniel T. Jones defined Lean as a systematic approach to identifying and eliminating waste. Launching Lean, in our case, involves value-stream mapping the current state, rapid process improvement, future visioning, and customer involvement.  Lean engages staff to identify and solve problems, and provides support systems that ensure success.  Womack & Jones identified 5 key Lean principles:

1. The customer defines value
2. Organize the work to deliver value 
3. Focus on flow of work 
4. Produce at the rate of customer demand
5. Improve continuously

For more information:

Please contact F2Lean@uw.edu