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Lean as a Healthcare Improvement Approach

Zoe Radnor, Sharon Williams

Swansea University Author: Sharon Williams

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DOI (Published version): 10.1017/9781009326124

Abstract

Lean is one of the most widely used improvement approaches in healthcare. With origins in manufacturing, it focuses on improving efficiency, eliminating waste, and streamlining processes. This Element provides an overview of the evidence for the use of Lean in healthcare, summarises the supporting t...

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ISBN: 9781009326148 9781009326124
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70745
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spelling 2025-11-21T14:36:23.6323890 v2 70745 2025-10-21 Lean as a Healthcare Improvement Approach ab46582012179a28370922a05774d3e3 Sharon Williams Sharon Williams true false 2025-10-21 Lean is one of the most widely used improvement approaches in healthcare. With origins in manufacturing, it focuses on improving efficiency, eliminating waste, and streamlining processes. This Element provides an overview of the evidence for the use of Lean in healthcare, summarises the supporting tools and techniques, and emphasises the importance of developing an organisational culture committed to continuous improvement. The authors offer two case studies of attempts to implement Lean at scale, noting that, despite its popularity, implementation is not straightforward. Challenges include terminology that isn't always easy to grasp, perceived dissonances between the manufacturing origins of Lean based on repetitive, standardised, automated production and the human-centred world of healthcare, and problems with fidelity. The authors make the case that there is a lack of a robust evidence base for Lean and call for well-designed studies to advance the implementation of Lean and associated process improvement techniques in healthcare. Monograph Cambridge University Press 9781009326148 9781009326124 Lean; process improvement; Six Sigma; Lean Six Sigma; implementation 31 10 2025 2025-10-31 10.1017/9781009326124 COLLEGE NANME COLLEGE CODE Swansea University Not Required THIS Institute 2025-11-21T14:36:23.6323890 2025-10-21T16:00:14.1481119 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Health and Social Care - Public Health Zoe Radnor 1 Sharon Williams 2 70745__35683__417d8e8b46ec4383bbeccbf99c529df4.pdf 70745.VoR.pdf 2025-11-21T14:34:16.0352644 Output 717745 application/pdf Version of Record true © THIS Institute 2025. Released under the terms of a Creative Commons Open Access license CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0. true eng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
title Lean as a Healthcare Improvement Approach
spellingShingle Lean as a Healthcare Improvement Approach
Sharon Williams
title_short Lean as a Healthcare Improvement Approach
title_full Lean as a Healthcare Improvement Approach
title_fullStr Lean as a Healthcare Improvement Approach
title_full_unstemmed Lean as a Healthcare Improvement Approach
title_sort Lean as a Healthcare Improvement Approach
author_id_str_mv ab46582012179a28370922a05774d3e3
author_id_fullname_str_mv ab46582012179a28370922a05774d3e3_***_Sharon Williams
author Sharon Williams
author2 Zoe Radnor
Sharon Williams
format Monograph
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
isbn 9781009326148
9781009326124
doi_str_mv 10.1017/9781009326124
publisher Cambridge University Press
college_str Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofmedicinehealthandlifesciences
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences
department_str School of Health and Social Care - Public Health{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences{{{_:::_}}}School of Health and Social Care - Public Health
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description Lean is one of the most widely used improvement approaches in healthcare. With origins in manufacturing, it focuses on improving efficiency, eliminating waste, and streamlining processes. This Element provides an overview of the evidence for the use of Lean in healthcare, summarises the supporting tools and techniques, and emphasises the importance of developing an organisational culture committed to continuous improvement. The authors offer two case studies of attempts to implement Lean at scale, noting that, despite its popularity, implementation is not straightforward. Challenges include terminology that isn't always easy to grasp, perceived dissonances between the manufacturing origins of Lean based on repetitive, standardised, automated production and the human-centred world of healthcare, and problems with fidelity. The authors make the case that there is a lack of a robust evidence base for Lean and call for well-designed studies to advance the implementation of Lean and associated process improvement techniques in healthcare.
published_date 2025-10-31T05:25:43Z
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