Pull production is a basic tenet of lean manufacturing. In a pull environment, downstream activities, such as assembly, signal their needs to upstream activities, such as material handling. The same principles apply to a lean workstation; operators pull parts and access assembly tools when and where they need them on a just-in-time basis.
At first glance, lean workstations may appear to be similar to traditional workstations, but they are inherently different. For instance, lean workstations must be designed for minimal wasted motion, which refers to any unnecessary time and effort required to assemble a product. Excessive twists or turns, uncomfortable reaches or pickups, and unnecessary walking all contribute to wasted motion.