Lean business principles lead to processes that minimize waste in delivering products or services to end users. A popular misconception is that lean is suited only for manufacturing. Not true. Lean applies in every business and every process. It is not a tactic or a cost reduction program, but a way of thinking and acting for an entire organisation. Businesses in all industries and services; including healthcare and governments are using lean principles as the way they think and do. From the standpoint of lean thinking, value begins and ends with the customer. Customers require a particular product or service from your business, and you must provide it in the amount necessary and on the customer's schedule. Determining the product or service that provides value to the customer stands as the first task for any business.