What is the main goal of lean supply chain management?

The main goal of lean supply chain management is to eliminate waste and improve efficiency. Lean principles focus on streamlining processes, reducing unnecessary steps, and minimizing resource consumption throughout the supply chain. By identifying and removing sources of waste—such as excess inventory, overproduction, unnecessary transportation, and waiting times—organizations can enhance their operational efficiency. This not only reduces costs but also leads to faster delivery times, improved quality, and greater customer satisfaction. By concentrating on creating value for customers while minimizing waste, businesses can operate more effectively in a competitive market, making efficiency a core objective of lean supply chain practices.

In this context, the other options focus on aspects that are not the primary aim of lean methodologies. Innovating new products, keeping inventory levels constant, or prioritizing service over cost can be complementary considerations, but they do not encapsulate the fundamental purpose of lean supply chain management, which is primarily about waste elimination and efficiency gains.