What is in the LeanSuite resources library?

Blog articles, e-books, case studies and templates on lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, quality, safety and maintenance. Filter by type or category, or search by keyword.

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Yes. Enter your name and work email on an e-book's page and it downloads. There is nothing to pay.

Where are the free templates and calculators?

Printable PDF and Excel templates are at theleansuite.com/templates, and free calculators for OEE, takt time, downtime cost and more are at theleansuite.com/tools.

Can I request a template you don't have yet?

Yes. Use the request form at theleansuite.com/templates, tell us what you need, and we make it and send it to your inbox, free.

Resources

Lean manufacturing resources

Articles, e-books and case studies on lean manufacturing methods and tools, and on making continuous improvement stick.

Featured · Lean Manufacturing Education

U-Shaped Cells in Lean Manufacturing: Key Layout Advantages

U-shaped cells bring a cell's entry and exit points next to each other. Learn why this specific shape outperforms a straight-line cell and when it fits.

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U-Shaped Cells in Lean Manufacturing: Key Layout Advantages

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Lean Manufacturing Education

U-Shaped Cells in Lean Manufacturing: Key Layout Advantages

U-shaped cells bring a cell's entry and exit points next to each other. Learn why this specific shape outperforms a straight-line cell and when it fits.

Vibhav Jaswal

Oct 19, 2026 | 15 Min

Flat illustration of an operator stepping between a lathe, drill press, deburring bench and coating booth placed side by side in process order, with a faded spread-out layout and a long crossed-out path behind

Lean Manufacturing Education

Cellular Manufacturing in JIT: Benefits and Implementation Guide

Cellular manufacturing groups the equipment needed to complete a product into one compact, process-sequenced area. Learn what it changes, what it costs to convert, and when it pays off.

Vibhav Jaswal

Oct 18, 2026 | 16 Min

Flat illustration of four operators at stations joined by one continuous belt with a single part between each pair and nothing piling up

Lean Manufacturing Education

Continuous Flow Design: Creating Uninterrupted Production in JIT

Continuous flow design combines takt-paced timing, single-unit transfers, and leveled scheduling into one line that moves without interruption. Learn what it draws together and where it deliberately breaks.

Vibhav Jaswal

Oct 17, 2026 | 16 Min

Flat illustration of a supervisor at a leveling board of coloured cards spread evenly across slots with equal-height load bars beneath

Lean Manufacturing Education

Heijunka in JIT: Leveling Production for Mixed Models

Heijunka levels production volume and mix so a line builds a steady, repeating pattern instead of large batches of one model at a time. Learn how leveling works and what it requires.

Vibhav Jaswal

Oct 16, 2026 | 16 Min

Flat illustration of a short bar finishing inside a longer bar beside an operator with a stopwatch at an assembly station

Lean Manufacturing Education

Cycle Time vs Takt Time: Understanding the Difference

What it means when cycle time runs above or below takt time, how to measure it, and how to compare the two across a multi-station line.

Vibhav Jaswal

Oct 15, 2026 | 18 Min

Flat illustration comparing a pile of waiting parts between stations with single pieces handed directly from operator to operator

Lean Manufacturing Education

One-Piece Flow in JIT: Eliminating Batch and Queue Production

How one-piece flow differs from batch-and-queue production, what must be in place first, its effect on lead time and inventory, and when it does not fit.

Vibhav Jaswal

Oct 14, 2026 | 16 Min

Flat illustration of a long winding path from dock to dock with stacks of waiting crates and one small bright workstation where work happens

Lean Manufacturing Education

Cycle Time vs Lead Time in Lean Manufacturing: Key Differences

Why lead time is almost always longer than cycle time, what Little's Law says about the gap, and how to measure and shrink it.

Vibhav Jaswal

Oct 13, 2026 | 15 Min

Flat illustration of finished boxes leaving a line at an even beat beneath a dial with one quarter highlighted, with a truck waiting

Lean Manufacturing Education

Takt Time in JIT: Matching Production to Customer Demand

Takt time is available production time divided by customer demand, the rate at which one unit must be completed to match what customers actually need. Learn how it's calculated and applied.

Vibhav Jaswal

Oct 12, 2026 | 16 Min

Flat illustration of a row of equal time slots across a shift, mostly filled, with a handler collecting one full container from a line

Lean Manufacturing Education

Pitch in JIT Manufacturing: Timed Production Intervals

Pitch is the standard container quantity multiplied by takt time, the interval at which finished containers should leave a paced process. Learn how pitch is calculated and used to pace production.

Vibhav Jaswal

Oct 11, 2026 | 16 Min

Showing 1 to 9 of 317 results

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FAQs

About the library

Blog articles, e-books, case studies and templates on lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, quality, safety and maintenance. Filter by type or category, or search by keyword.
Yes. Enter your name and work email on an e-book's page and it downloads. There is nothing to pay.
Printable PDF and Excel templates are at theleansuite.com/templates, and free calculators for OEE, takt time, downtime cost and more are at theleansuite.com/tools.
Yes. Use the request form at theleansuite.com/templates, tell us what you need, and we make it and send it to your inbox, free.