Lean Manufacturing

Biological Parallel

Predators are the original lean manufacturers: a cheetah's body is 8% body fat (compared to 15-20% for humans), carrying zero waste because every ounce slows the chase. Energy is allocated precisely—powerful muscles, large heart, but lightweight bones and small teeth—nothing extra. Metabolic efficiency eliminates waste at the cellular level: mitochondria produce ATP with minimal heat loss, and apoptosis kills damaged cells before they consume resources. Lean manufacturing is biological resource allocation made systematic.