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Coming up with Low-Tech Lean solutions is a bit like being a surgeon. It's a well-known fact that a medical doctor takes an oath to "do no harm." Perhaps a lesser known guiding principle is the practice of executing the "least invasive procedure." In other words do as little as you can, but all that is needed, to fix the problem. This is a Lean approach. This includes not spending more than is needed, not building a solution that's too large, and any other excess expenditure of time or effort.
Low-Tech Lean Solutions:
• Actually solve problems
• Can be implemented quickly and easily, usually with items already in-house
• Maximize R.O.I. both for time and money spent
• Are as good, nearly as good, or even better than hi-tech or expensive solutions
Sometimes a few pallets, a sheet of plywood, some cardboard, and a couple of 2 x 4's are all you need to have a not-so-state-of-the-art, but functional, gravity-fed supply rack. Interestingly, pallets are a Lean building material of choice in many companies used for temporary work benches, boxing stands, staging areas, and so on. Once again, if you can't spend too much money but need components for your Lean infrastructure this may be the budget conscious solution you were looking for.
Of course generally we prefer welded structures with durable castors for increased mobility and adjustable fixtures that allow for maximum flexibility. One school of thought is to employ Low-Tech Lean to cost justify further investment in solutions with increased functionality. In other words, you've already proven out your solution so additional benefits of higher-tech solutions are easy to demonstrate.
