Case Study Title: $$Turning the Gears: Applying Lean Thinking at VoltEdge Bikes$$ Background: VoltEdge Bikes is a small, fast$-$growing startup that designs and manufactures electric bicycles for urban commuters. Founded by a passionate entrepreneur with a background in industrial design, the company quickly gained attention for its sleek, eco$-$friendly design and cutting$-$edge battery technology. In its early phase, the founder was laser$-$focused on innovation and market visibility. As a result, operational aspects such as production planning, inventory management, supplier relationships, and quality control were given little attention. Now, two years into operations, VoltEdge is experiencing serious growing pains: Inventory Inefficiencies: The company holds excessive inventory of some components while regularly facing shortages of others, causing frequent production delays and tying up vital cash reserves. Supply Chain Issues: Poorly structured contracts with suppliers and inadequate shipping planning have led to delayed and inconsistent deliveries, including batches of defective parts. Quality Problems: A lack of quality management systems has resulted in defects slipping through to customers. Complaints have started surfacing on social media, risking the company$$s hard$-$earned reputation. Recognizing the need for a more disciplined approach, the founder decides to adopt Lean Thinking principlesto reduce waste, improve operational efficiency, enhance product quality, and stabilize cash flow. Student Assignment: As a small business operations consultant, you$$ve been asked to help VoltEdge Bikes transition to a leaner operation. Your tasks: Analyze the case from the perspective of Lean Thinking. Identify the types of waste $($e$.$g$.,$ overproduction, inventory, defects, waiting time, transportation, motion, overprocessing$).$Highlight where current operations contradict lean principles. Recommend changes that VoltEdge should implement under the Lean Thinking framework. Be specific. Explain how each proposed change would reduce waste, improve quality, enhance efficiency, and support sustainable growth.