Are you downsizing or just hoping to simplify your life? This course will present an overview of the “lean principles,” an approach that has helped many businesses reduce waste and add value and can be applied by individuals in their daily lives. By using the 5-S method, we will identify ways to reduce wasted space, store items so they can be found easily, save time, reduce stress, and error-proof daily activities. Participants will be encouraged to undertake a simple 5-S project and share their experiences and lessons learned with other participants.

Several interesting issues are raised when we apply lean methods and principles outside a business context, especially in a household that includes multiple people with different needs and preferences. What is value in the context of our daily lives? How do we measure it? What is waste, and how should we prioritize different types of waste, such as time, money, storage space, inconvenience, etc.?

As we explore the 5-S method, we will discover that the answers vary both for different households and over time and that Lean Living principles align closely with common sense.

This course will combine lecture with class discussions.