Industrial SMEs must satisfy the demand for ever more sophisticated and diversified products that are more and more reliable and at reduced costs. Although "Lean Production", the latest industrial organizational model, has aroused a great deal of interest amongst industrialists and consultants, it is far from being "standard practice" in many companies, particularly in SMEs.

The purpose of Our "Lean Production" programme is to turn these concepts into a reality for SMEs.

Within the framework of the European ADAPT programme, which is financed by the European Social Fund, the DRTEFP, the DRIRE and the companies involved, CEFORALP successfully designed and implemented "Lean Production" in 66 Rhône Alpes companies during the 1988-1999 period.

The programme highlighted 250 strong points and 260 weak points, it also suggested 300 action plans and followed 140. 16 consultants were mobilized during 940 half days and 36 trainers over 340 full days. A total of, 1,400 people participated in this programme.