Abstract
The theory of lean production has great influence on enterprises which accepts the mass production thinking, and leads to the trend in Business Process Reengineering (BPR) as well in these decades. However, most entrepreneurs introduced lean production into enterprise were in situation of note only the details but not the whole picture of lean, increasing probability of failure and losing ground of leadership eventually. This thesis firstly review literatures of lean, BPR (Business Process Redesign), TPS (Toyota Production System) house diagram and TQM (Total Quality Management) house to classify meanings of system framework of ‘house’ by (1) philosophy, (2) operational foundation, (3) system feature, (4) application, (5)target, (6) core element, (7) system variety respectively, then review the development of lean theory from 1913 to 2005 in the points of view on key events, development of literatures and the evolution of thinking and methods. Meanwhile, to address the purpose of the study–whole picture of lean system, this thesis argue Lean System Model (LSM) consist of four elements PSEI, Philosophy, Strategy, Evolution, Implementation, based on lean house core elements and ‘learning to evolve’ model. Finally, address to the meaning of ‘lean’ and ‘house’ to the overall system perspective, this thesis making five conclusions, (1) build integrated knowledge through house-building point of view, (2) the meaning of lean toward system is needs less of everything (less effort, less space, fewer defects, less throughput time, lower volume requirements, less capital for a given level output) to design and produce products economically at lower volumes with fewer errors, and build organizational evolvement capability through eliminating waste and melting new elements and methods in process improvement activities, (3) philosophy is foundation stone of lean system, also lean philosophy extending its effect of system scope so far, (4) the features determined inimitable, distinguishable and focused area of the system, (5) lean system is extension of TPS, but lean system is not totally regard as TPS and is evolving to the overall system integration gradually.