Customer Reviews

Becoming Lean: Inside Stories of U.S. Manufacturers

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the real stuff - not academic theory but real examples of "lean" written by the people that made it happen. The concluding chapter on "what we have learned about becoming lean" pulls it all together in a neat package. This is a must read for anyone who enjoyed Womack's book on "Lean Thinking". We have applied these learnings at this company with great results.

This book covers a number of great insights into the journey to leanness. It has the unique angle of having its case studies written by the people from the companies profiled in the studies. This gives a first hand review of the accomplishments and roadblocks that are part of becoming lean by those that went through them. Becoming Lean also gives accounts from people with personal experience from working for Toyota while they transplanted to North America to how the Japanese school system compares to and contrasts from the American school systems. In general, this book gives an excellent understanding that only a first-hand account can do. If you want to learn what it means to become lean this book is a must and should be used as a reference book while going through the lean transformation!

"Becoming Lean" delivers the promise of its title by docmenting case studies of successful lean implementations in diverse industries. The step-by-step accounts of the implementors (CEOs, Presidents, and consultants) identify successful strategies and execution, as well as problems encountered during the implementations.

Having worked in manufacturing for 29 years, I'm ecstatic that American companies are now understanding that we engineer and manufacture products in a global market. The only way to ensure long term survival is to deliver the highest quality at an affordable price (and cost) , precisely when the customer wants it!

Lean Manufacturing is the only way to achieve ALL of these fundamental requirements. "Becoming Lean" provides the tools to get your company either started, or back on track, on the road to Lean success.

"Becoming Lean" delivers the promise of its title by documenting case studies of successful lean implementations in diverse industries. The step-by-step accounts of the implementors (CEOs, Presidents, and consultants) identify successful strategies and execution, as well as problems encountered during the implementations.

Having worked in manufacturing for 29 years, I'm ecstatic that American companies are now understanding that we engineer and manufacture products in a global market. The only way to ensure long term survival is to deliver the highest quality at an affordable price (and cost), precisely when the customer wants it!

Lean Manufacturing is the only way to achieve ALL of these fundamental requirements. "Becoming Lean" provides the tools to get your company either started, or back on track, on the road to Lean success.

I found this book very interesting and extremely practical. The chapters containing stories of Manufacturing companies currently implementing Lean are especially useful. Each contains a multitude of clear diagrams, worksheets, and examples of exactly what they have done. In addition, each company seems to have honestly commented on what works and what doesn't. If you are involved in implementing Lean Manufacturing in your plant, this is a must read.

Becoming Lean is a fantastic book written by respectable individuals with documented "LEAN" experience. Particulaty valuable is the realistic picture depicted by those who have and still are implementing many of the concepts pioneered by Toyota. A high recommendation for anyone in any business.

BECOMING LEAN
Probably one of the better "lean" production books, because most books will tell you what lean production is. We have all heard the buzzwords, kaizen, quality circles, empowerment, kanban, benchmarking. but one is still left with their peculiar situation. There is always the thought that this particular company or industry is does not lend itself to lean production and is the exception to the rule. "Becoming Lean" is the account of some diverse companies on the road to lean production. The attempt of make each company fit a certain production model and achieve its goal. I recommend this book for teaching by example, instead of dealing with just theory.

This book is exactly what I was looking. It provides an detailed overview of Lean Manufacturing, from its history to examples of implementation in US manufacturing facilities today.

If you are looking for a detailed overview and want to understand what lean manufacturing is all about, then I highly recommend this book. I have passed it on to our CEO (with specific sections marked) and it has sparked great discussion concerning our manufacturing methods.

If this book is filled with insights from experts in lean manufacturing, then why did the 4/27/98 issue of Fortune report a $63M loss with profits down 150% on their client company (Western Atlas). If that's what it means to become lean, I'll pass. If I'm looking for guidance on lean manufacturing, I'll go look at some Kaizen books. I'm not impressed.........