Which of the following is NOT a focus of Lean practices?

Lean practices primarily concentrate on maximizing value for customers by minimizing waste and continuously improving processes. The focus areas include eliminating waste, which involves identifying and removing any inefficiencies or non-value-adding activities from a process. Continuous improvement is also a core principle in Lean methodologies, emphasizing the need for ongoing enhancement of processes, products, and services.

Enhancing customer value is another key focus of Lean practices, as the ultimate goal is to deliver maximum value to customers efficiently. This is achieved by streamlining operations and ensuring that every step in a process contributes to what customers consider valuable.

Managing personnel costs, while important in overall business strategy, does not align with the primary objectives of Lean. Lean practices are not about directly managing personnel expenses but rather optimizing processes to improve efficiency and responsiveness to customer needs. Thus, the emphasis is on process improvement and value creation rather than on reducing workforce costs.