Lean manufacturing is a production system that aims to minimize waste and maximize value for customers. It was first developed by Toyota in the 1940s and has since been adopted by many other manufacturing companies. The goal of lean manufacturing is to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve quality by eliminating waste and optimizing production processes.

The key principles of lean manufacturing include:

1. Value: Identifying and delivering value to customers through the production process.
2. Value stream: Identifying and mapping the entire value stream, including all the steps required to deliver value to the customer.
3. Flow: Creating a smooth flow of work through the production process, reducing delays and interruptions.
4. Pull: Producing goods based on customer demand rather than pushing products through the production process.
5. Perfection: Continuously improving the production process to eliminate waste and improve efficiency.

Lean manufacturing techniques include:

1. Just-in-time (JIT): Producing goods only when they are needed, reducing the need for inventory and minimizing waste.
2. Kaizen: Continuous improvement of the production process through small, incremental changes.
3. Kanban: Using visual signals to control the flow of work through the production process.
4. Poka-yoke: Designing processes and equipment to prevent errors and mistakes.
5. Andon: Visual signals used to indicate problems in the production process, allowing for quick identification and resolution.

By implementing lean manufacturing principles and techniques, companies can achieve a more efficient, cost-effective, and customer-focused production process.