I often think of the book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten when I consider lean manufacturing’s core principles. Robert Fulghum wrote that book in the late 1980s, but, like any elemental truth, it remains evergreen. His premise is right there in the title: Just think back to kindergarten if you want to remember how to live life right. Share everything, play fair, don’t hit people, he says. Clean up your own mess.

Lean dogma isn’t much more complicated. I was reminded of that today when I read an article in the Sheboygan (WI) Press that highlighted the lean journey of machine maker Kurtz North America Inc. The highlight of the transformation? After training, employees are now putting tools back where they belong when they’re finished with them.

In that spirit, I propose a lean version of Robert Fulghum’s tome, and it would start with a couple of simple truths:

Don’t be wasteful.

Put things back where you found them.

Keep your area clean.

I’m sure we could come up with a comprehensive list in no time. This isn’t very complicated stuff, after all…