The Idea Generator: Quick and Easy Kaizen (Paperback)

Synopsis
The goal of this book is to guide improvement activities throughout the organization: to use creative ideas from all employees to serve both internal and external customers, to unlock the hidden potential of every single employee, and to bring new excitement and joy into the workplace. Dana Corporation gets over 2,000,000 ideas a year from all of their employees. This book tells you how to do it. 'What sets us apart? The Toyota Production System is at the heart of everything we do. Based on the concept of continuous improvement, or kaizen, every Toyota team member is empowered with the ability to change their work environment. This includes everything from quality and safety to the environment and productivity. Improvements and suggestions by team members are the cornerstone of Toyota's success.' From the Inside Flap: Testimonials to The Idea Generator. 'Management by simplicity is the goal of all companies being strangled by complexity. Get back to basics. These principles are universal. Buy and read this book. It is hot. In fact, it's great!' - Greg Hutchins author of ISO9000: A Comprehensive Guide, Do I.T. and Working It. 'I like it!! Anywhere you open it, you find a quick read, a concrete management lesson, and the main point of the whole book comes through. Keep it Simple! The pictures are very effective in communicating thought rapidly. Congratulations.' - Dr. Min Basadur, professor McMaster university and author of Simplex a Flight to Creativity. 'The Idea Generator brings continuous improvement down to Earth - and raises up to the heavens the importance of everybody documenting every implemented idea, however small. It's a message too few understand.' - Richard J. Schonberger, President Schonberger & Associates, Inc. and author of Japanese Manufacturing Techniques: Nine Hidden Lessons in Simplicity, The World Class Manufacturing: The Lessons of Simplicity Applied and World Class Manufacturing: The Next Decade: Building Power, Strength, and Value. 'Two process improvement system pioneers have combined their wisdom and experience into a practical handbook. This easy to read manual can be used at any level to improve processes, rethink structure and change policy. Every supervisor and manager should have a copy and use it every day.' - Dr. Jac Fitz-enz, Founder & Chairman Saratoga Institute and author of The ROI of Human Capital: Measuring the Economic Value of Employee Performance, A New Vision for Human Resources: Defining the Human Resources Function by its Results and The Eight Practices of Exceptional Companies: How great Organizations Make the Most of Their human Assets. 'I have searched for a book that would relate Japanese management to American management techniques from not only theory but to the practical view, ie; Here is how it is done. Many thanks for finally providing the American student the chance to become familiar with Kaizen.' - Professor Irvin Otis, Central Michigan university and former director IE Chrysler Corp. 'It's a book targeted for success.' - William Christopher, author of Handbook for Productivity Measurement and Improvement. 'In down times, having an idea program will make the difference. It creates a competitive advantage.' - Gary Corrigan, VP Corporate Communications, Dana Corporation.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews   4.0 out of 5 stars A Quick and Easy Read, 24 April 2007 By  Mr. Ross Maynard (Glasgow, Scotland) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    I believe that "Quick and Easy Kaizen" offers the potential for a revolution in developing a fully participative and involved workforce. Whereas traditional "suggestion schemes" are bureaucratic and costly, often taking weeks to feedback to the individual, and taking the idea out of the responsibility of the originator and giving it to managers, the "Quick and Easy Kaizen" route is a simple workplace based process where the individual (or team) implements most of their own ideas. The book focusses on the sort of simple ideas that arise as part of our work - by learning we do things better and improve - that is Quick and Easy Kaizen. At 350 pages the book seems daunting, but it is actually very easy to read, and repeats its key points over and over (they are important points). The book is packed with anecdotes and examples. The whole focus is on encouraging staff to raise simple ideas and implement them themselves. The author doesn't have the best writing style ever, and the structure of the book is fairly random, with lots of repetition, but it is an important concept and worth reading for that. If you are serious about improving involvement in your workplace then you should read this book. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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