About lean-stack
From learning a lean practice to picking the software for it
lean-stack is an independent directory of lean tools. It puts the method, the math and the software in one place, so a team can learn a practice and compare the tools that support it without starting over on every vendor's site.
Why it exists
Three problems we kept running into
The problem
Vendor pages describe features, not practices.
What lean-stack does
Every tool sits under the lean practice it supports, next to a page that explains that practice.
The problem
Prices are scattered, hidden or out of date.
What lean-stack does
Each profile shows plans and prices in the same format, with the date they were checked.
The problem
Rankings are hard to trust when vendors can pay for them.
What lean-stack does
Lists are alphabetical, nobody pays for placement, and there are no scores until tools are tested hands-on.
What is here
7 areas of lean, one directory
The directory is organized the way lean teams work, from the shop floor to strategy and startups.
Lean Manufacturing Software
7 categories · 28 tools
- OEE Software
- Andon Software
- CMMS & TPM Software
- Work Instructions Software
- and 3 more
Continuous Improvement Software
5 categories · 17 tools
- Kaizen Software
- Daily Management Software
- 5S Audit Software
- Root Cause Analysis Software
- and 1 more
Lean Six Sigma Tools
5 categories · 15 tools
- SPC Software
- Six Sigma Software
- Value Stream Mapping Software
- CAPA Software
- and 1 more
Lean-Agile Software
5 categories · 15 tools
- Kanban Software
- Flow Metrics Tools
- Value Stream Management Software
- Lean Portfolio Management Software
- and 1 more
Strategy Deployment Software
2 categories · 6 tools
- OKR Software
- Hoshin Kanri Software
Lean Startup Tools
4 categories · 12 tools
- MVP Tools
- A/B Testing Tools
- Customer Discovery Tools
- Lean Canvas Tools
Lean Tools
3 categories · 9 tools
- Lean Templates
- Lean Six Sigma Certification & Training
- Lean Books
Built in the open
How the directory grows
Tools go live in batches. Each one is researched from public sources and checked against the same listing criteria. This is the full publishing log so far.
October 5, 2026
3 tools published
October 4, 2026
3 tools published
October 3, 2026
3 tools published
October 2, 2026
93 tools published
Businessmap, Planview AgilePlace, Kanboard, ActionableAgile Analytics, Nave, JiraMetrics and 87 more
Who runs it
An independent team, with no vendor money in the lists
lean-stack is run by an independent team. We built it to make vendor information for lean practices easier to compare. No tool has a lean-stack score yet, because we have not tested the tools hands-on. The rubric we will use is already public on the methodology page.
- Run by
- An independent team
- Paid placement
- None
- Cost to be listed
- Free
- Tool scores
- Not yet; profiles are desk research
- Sources
- Listed and dated on every profile
- Corrections
- Through the contact page
Corrections
Spotted something wrong?
Vendors and readers can request a correction. Send the page link and a public source for the right fact. We check it against that source, fix the profile and update its checked date.
Where to start
Three ways into the site
New to lean tools
What is a lean stack?
How to choose lean tools one practice at a time, without buying software you won't use.
Read the guideLearn a method
Kanban, step by step
One of 29 method pages, each explaining a lean technique and the software that supports it.
Open the methodRun the numbers
OEE calculator
Work out availability, performance and quality in a minute. One of 8 free calculators.
Try the calculatorFor vendors
Built a lean tool?
Submit it for review. Every tool is checked against our listing criteria and researched from public sources. Approved tools join their category in the next published batch.