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Amazon.co.uk Review
Following on from their book, The Machine that Changed the World, Womack and Jones have developed their ideas further with Lean Thinking. This book is aimed at any manager interested in sustaining growth within their industry. They define "lean thinking" as the elimination of unnecessary waste in business, and by outlining the principles and applications of this they link their theories to value for the customer.
Womack and Jones demonstrate the effectiveness of their approach through their research in both the U.S. and Europe. Citing examples from both simple and complex manufacturing processes, and from traditional technologies to high-tech companies, they show how their theories have been put into action.
They develop their ideas further by suggesting the application of lean thinking to the whole product cycle, from suppliers to customers. Taking the travel industry as an example, the authors show how their methods could eliminate long queues and waiting times for customers.
Based on the belief that companies should compete against perfection rather than each other, Lean Thinking provides a valuable new insight into methods of production management. And by applying the theories outlined in this book, managers across all sectors of the economy will be able to reduce waste and increase profitability. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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"Fortune" A new and coherent thesis about automotive production...[the authors] back up their conclusions with unique statistical measures that are authoritative, extremely timely, and highly revealing. Think of this book as another step in the decade-long process of getting the attention of recalcitrant mass producers.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Unlike most cost-reduction books, Lean Thinking has a strong conceptual underpinning for thinking about improving your operations. The authors move beyond the narrowest application of the lean manufacturing model (the original Toyota system) to explore key concepts like value (what do the customers want? as opposed to what do they choose from the limited options we give them?), flow (continuous production is faster and more efficient than batch processing), pull (letting immediate demand determine what is produced rather than sales projections), and perfection (thinking through the ideal way to do things, rather than just improving from where you are today somewhat). Providing this conceptual framework makes it easier to understand the benefits of operating a lean enterprise. People who did not understand the message in Direct from Dell would find Lean Thinking to be a useful framework.
One of the strengths of this book is that it is deliberately full of examples of companies which took traditional methods in existing plants and converted them into lean operations. I know of no other set of case histories half as useful on this subject.
The key limitation of this book is that most people new to lean manufacturing would not be able to implement solely using the book as a guide. The conceptual perspective, while being uniquely valuable, leaves the inexperienced person with few guideposts. Some of the key requirements are simply described as "get the knowledge" and so forth. As a follow-up, I suggest that the authors team with those who have done this work and write a hands-on guide. Much more benefit will follow.
If you are interested in understanding how a new business model of how to provide your products and/or services might work and what the benefits might be, Lean Thinking is a good place to start. Most executives and operations managers have never seriously considered going from batch to cell-based production. This will open your eyes to the potential.
Based on my many years of experience with improving business processes, you will actually need to go visit some of the companies cited to fully understand the issues and what must be done. I know that visits to Pratt & Whitney can be arranged and are very insightful. You might try to start with that one.
One area may turn you off. The cited examples moved forward pretty ruthlessly. That may not be your cup of tea. You may be reminded of some of the early reengineering. My own experience is that such changes can be done in a more positive and constructive way. Stay open to that possibility as you read the cases. They basically all use command and control to create more flexibility. You can also use other methods like those encouraged in The Soul at Work and The Living Company to create these kinds of results. Keep that in mind.
I recommend that everyone who uses batch and sequential operation methods read this book. It will open your eyes to great potential to grow faster and more profitably.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
It is now nearly three years since I first read this book and it's message is as valid today as it was then.
In an easy to read style it sets out the steps taken by different people as they first faced a looming crisis and then journeyed down the road to Lean and reaped the success that was achieved by their hard work.
For any manager or improvement agent it is an excellent introduction as it tells the stories of several companies from different industries and dispells some of the myths of Lean.
For me it has been an inspiration as I now work educating and helping companies implement Lean as described in this book.
One thing is certainly true, survival is optional, and as this book shows with Porsche, a big name and fantastic quality are no defence if you can't keep your costs down. Lean methods saved them and it can do the same for your company, you need to be convinced? Read Lean Thinking, I still dip into it on a regular basis!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An excellent book to follow on The Machine That Changed The World, this concentrated on the stories of some very different businesses and how they used the 'Lean' manufacturing principles to improve the way they do business. The stories of these companies served to illlustrate how Mass production is not the answer to the modern customer driven business. The way forward for the manager of the future is to embrace the concepts of lean, reduction of waste, produce what the customer wants, when he wants it and at a reasonable cost whilst making a profit. This book illustrates how to achieve these things and more, but for the manager a change in mindset is shown as the major stumblng block to success. If there is one message from this book for the Western industrial world it is the dire warning that those who do not change will be left behind. I was inspired by this book, you will be too.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
you get everything you need in first 100 pages
is well written and gives you good understanding of the lean concept. I however only read the first 100 pages
Published 6 months ago by supdev1
Lean, but by no means lame!
The 27th July 1994 was a momentous day for Porsche. For the first time a Porsche Carrera rolled off the production line without a single defect. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Jonathan Kettleborough
not quite finished....
....reading it yet but as this is all the rage in the public sector and i have a week long course on it to attend then what better than getting it from the "horses mouth" so to... Read more
Published 17 months ago by ajc1969
Lean Thinking
Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your CorporationThis book is a must for anyone looking to make positive changes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in their... Read more
Published 18 months ago by G. W. Kemish
Lean Thinking
A good and easy to understand breakdown of how lean methods can be applied in different situations. It's helping me to get to grips with a subject which I studied at University,... Read more
Published 19 months ago by bdj
Great
Fast delivery and great condition of the book. I recommend the saller very much :)
Published on 29 May 2010 by Monika Stanczyk
Inspiring and well named book
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in business improvement. It is well thought out and easy to read. Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2009 by A. Shingleton
Lean Thinking
Excellent book.This is a good book that shows you the way to eliminate waste in your organisation by applying a few concepts.Highly recommended.
Published on 15 Mar 2009 by Mrs. M. Williams
Lean as a philosophy.
I have bought half a dozen `Lean' books from Amazon in addition to several from other book shops, and this book stands head and shoulders above the rest. Read more
Published on 26 May 2008 by Mr. S. J. Doyle
Get the "muda" out of here.
This book is better than "The Machine That changed the World." For that matter this book is more useful than most in the field, and not just for lean thinking. James P. Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2002 by bernie
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