Although both lean and agile manufacturing can help companies reduce costs, improve customer service, and increase responsiveness, there are some differences between these methodologies. Lean manufacturing focuses on minimizing production costs. The focus is therefore on demand-driven production, which aims to eliminate inventory investments. Lean manufacturing involves improving the effective use of utilities, facilities and materials. The process is driven by the belief that processes can be constantly improved to make production more cost-efficient. Therefore, lean manufacturing emphasizes performance improvement and measurement. You could see both models through the analogy of a person. One could be a slim person or a fit person. These two are not the same, although a person can also be slim and fit. Likewise, an organization may be a lean or agile manufacturer, or the company may become one