The lean enterprise encompasses what, starting with whom?

The lean enterprise framework fundamentally focuses on maximizing value for the customer while minimizing waste throughout the entire production system. By starting with the customer, the lean approach emphasizes understanding their needs and expectations, which drives the processes and practices within the organization.

In a lean environment, every step in the production system is evaluated in terms of how it adds value for the customer. This customer-centric focus ensures that all improvements and initiatives are aligned with delivering quality and satisfaction. The involvement of the entire production system reflects the holistic nature of lean, which aims to streamline processes, reduce waste, and ultimately serve the customer better.

The other options, although they touch on important aspects of operational management, do not encapsulate the core philosophy of lean, which places the customer at the beginning of the value creation process. This orientation towards customer value is what makes the correct choice stand out significantly in the context of lean principles.