Why We Practice LEAN

Why We Practice LEAN and What It Means for You

If you’ve worked with Gandy Ink, you know we’re always striving to do better for our customers, our team, and our community. Behind the scenes, one of the ways we pursue that improvement is through something called LEAN.

You may have heard the term before, especially if you’ve spent time in the world of manufacturing or operations. But LEAN isn’t just a buzzword or a process, it’s a mindset. And for us, it’s becoming a vital part of how we serve you.

What Is Lean?

At its core, LEAN is the name for the production philosophy pioneered by Toyota, widely regarded as one of the most efficient and consistent manufacturers in the world. LEAN is built on the idea that small improvements made every day can lead to remarkable, lasting change.

In practical terms, LEAN helps us:

Eliminate waste
Create smoother, more reliable workflows
Empower employees to solve problems at the source
Continuously improve how we work

We were introduced to LEAN through 2 Second Lean by Paul Akers, a book that simplifies these principles into an approachable, people-first way of working. It’s helped guide how we think, act, and grow as a team. Ryan Tierney’s book Lean Made Simple has also been an influential resource in systematically building a culture of continuous improvement at all levels.

Why It Matters to You

For our customers, whether you're a school administrator ordering spirit wear, a coach outfitting your team, or a business leader looking for custom promotional products, LEAN makes your experience better.

Here’s how:

Faster, more consistent turnaround times - By improving our internal flow, we cut delays and reduce rework, so you get your orders more quickly and accurately.

Higher quality with fewer errors - LEAN empowers the people closest to the work to see issues, fix them, and keep standards high.

A more responsive, people-powered team - Our team is actively involved in improving their workspace and processes. That ownership shows up in the pride, communication, and care we bring to your order.

Continuous innovation - Because LEAN encourages us to improve daily, we’re constantly refining our processes for things like decorating a garment, packaging your order, or responding to special requests.

How We Practice LEAN at Gandy Ink

Here’s a look into what LEAN looks like in action at our facility:

Daily team meetings to identify waste and improvement opportunities
Dedicated time every morning for employees to 3S (sort, sweep, and standardize)
A central hub for sharing improvements so our team can learn from each other’s wins
Cross-department collaboration to solve challenges with customer impact in mind

What might look like a small tweak, such as removing an extra step, labeling a shelf, or adjusting a layout, adds up to real results. And when our internal systems run better, your experience as a customer does, too.

It’s Part of Who We’re Becoming

At Gandy Ink, LEAN is more than just a tool; it’s a commitment. A commitment to never settle, to always look for ways to improve things, and to keep our people at the center of the solution. It is a commitment to continuously add greater value to our customers.

We believe that when our team is empowered, our customers feel the difference. Whether you're opening a box of spirit tees for your next pep rally or unboxing a branded gift for a corporate event, the attention to detail and consistency we’re building behind the scenes is designed to support your success.

Want to Learn More?

We’re always happy to share more about how we operate and why we believe a culture of continuous improvement is worth investing in. If you're a business owner, school leader, or community partner and want to chat more about LEAN or how we’ve implemented it, reach out. We’re happy to swap notes.

Because being better every day isn’t just something we say, it’s how we work.