I am adding a new Lean concept to my training material that is called “Collaborative Consumption”. It is the concept the 2 or more different businesses or departments with businesses collaborate to make maximum use of resources. Outsourcing is an example of this however there are other examples such as shared use of receptionists for several companies in the same office block, shared copier rooms, or shared warehouse space where you only pay for what you use. Whenever you have assets ( equipment or people ) that you are not using 100% of the time you can ask yourself the question ‘would someone else pay me to use those assets while they are not being used”.   There is a good website dedicated to technology that enables Collaborative Consumption www.collaborativeconsumption.com/