Lean Transformation: How to Change Your Business Into a Lean Enterprise

I didn’t receive it The parcel has been lost

Lead author Bruce Henderson, Wharton MBA, former McKinsey consultant and former CEO for 30,000 addresses better than anyone the "What's In It For Me" aspect of Lean for board members and C level executives. This book brings valuable insights for a wide range of audiences. Novices and those who have already led numerous lean transformations will find valuable lessons inside. The straightforward style is refreshing and real at the same time; the term concrete heads is richly detailed with practical details which any reader will instantly understand. The Dell example is dated, though the principles still relevant. The treatment of Six Sigma is light, and does not represent the integration which Michael George shares in his book Lean Six Sigma. On the other hand, the strategic alignment in Lean Transformation feels better addressed than in Lean Six Sigma. My hypothesis is that this strategic alignment is a key factor in long term sustainability of continuous improvement, whatever the flavor. Heavily focused on discrete manufacturing as opposed to continuous process manufacturing, this classic remains close to the top of my list of 300+ books on Lean, Six Sigma and Process Improvement for executives who seek to better understand lean.

Extremely well written and easy to read, "Lean Transformation" does a great job of setting the scene for lean. It covers the issues and challenges you will face in moving to lean. As such it is a good primer or starter text for managers about the make the leap to lean. Although the subtitle of the book is "How to Change Your Business Into a Lean Enterprise", this is not really a how-to manual - there is no explanation of how to map value streams, run 5S events, or implement any of the techniques. Rather the book is giving an overview perspective of the issues. For more detail you will need to move to other books such as "The New Lean Pocket Guide", "The New Lean Toolbox", "Lean Production Simplified" etc. I recommend this for senior managers needing good coverage of the arguments and issues in lean. Senior managers should also read "The Toyota Way", and "Creating a Lean Culture".

I've noticed that I reach for this book in my Lean practice, more than any other. Coincidence or a great book? I think it's not coincidence. This is lean classic for the TOTAL ENTERPRISE.

This book will be an excellent read for both the experienced lean warrior and those new to the subject. Henderson has clearly been through many lean implementations, for his words of caution in Part I of this book could not be more accurate. Also of specific interest is a section near the end of the book on financial measurements for lean - very interesting. This would be a great book for a lean champion in any company to put on the required reading list.

Lean Transformation is an informative yet easy-to-read guide for companies wishing to transform themselves into lean manufacturers. Authored by Bruce Henderson, CEO Invensys Controls and Jorge Larco, a leading manufacturing consultant, the book addresses topics ranging from cultural issues to mapping for continuous flow, to right-sizing machinery and quick set-up, to kanban and material handling to spreading the transformation from final assembly throughout the entire organization. Readers will learn from the experiences of Toyota, Dell Computers and others, while benefiting from the charts, diagrams and step-by-step instructions provided in the book. A must-read for any and all companies wanting to lead in the next millennium.