Better Thinking, Better Results: Case Study and Analysis of an Enterprise-Wide Lean Transformation [Paperback]

Bob Emiliani (Author), David Stec (Contributor), Lawrence Grasso (Contributor), James Stodder (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0972259120 | ISBN-13: 978-0972259125 | Publication Date: March 23, 2007 | Edition: 2

BETTER THINKING, BETTER RESULTS answers the question: "How do you conduct a Lean transformation?" It is a detailed case study and analysis of The Wiremold Company's enterprise-wide Lean transformation from 1991-2001, notable for the integration of both technical and human aspects. It is an authoritative and practical Lean implementation manual that will help guide managers on their journey. You will learn how the management team at Wiremold applied Lean principles and practices to human resources, finance, sales, marketing, engineering, operations, acquisitions process, and throughout the value stream with suppliers, intermediate customers, and end-use customers. You'll be amazed at the financial and non-financial results they achieved. The second edition brings the story up-to-date with a new chapter that describes what happened to Wiremold's Lean management efforts since 2001. You will learn vital lessons about the challenge of maintaining continuity in Lean management practice over the long term. BETTER THINKING, BETTER RESULTS won a Shingo Prize in 2003 as the first book to describe an enterprise-wide Lean transformation in a real company where both principles of Lean management - "Continuous Improvement" and "Respect for People" - were applied. There is no other book like this one. "Everything you need to know about a Lean transformation is explained between these covers..." - James P. Womack, Chairman and Founder of the Lean Enterprise Institute

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bob Emiliani and his associates have done us all a service by documenting this important case example. The book reflects a great depth of understanding of Lean thinking and of the detailed transformation of The Wiremold Company. They aptly demonstrate that Lean is more than manufacturing tools but a total business solution and a way of meaningfully engaging people. This is one of the important books that anybody interested in Lean thinking needs to read." -- Jeffrey Liker, Professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering, University of Michigan, and author of The Toyota Way

"In Lean Thinking, Dan Jones and I told the Lean success story of Art Byrne and his team at The Wiremold Company during 1991-1996 from a fifty thousand foot altitude. In this fascinating volume, Bob Emiliani takes you down to tree top height and brings the story up to the present so you can see all of the specific methods - technical, managerial, and leadership - Art used to mold a moribund smokestack company into a Lean champion. Everything you need to know about a Lean transformation is explained between these covers, with helpful summaries of all the key lessons for you to apply immediately to your own business." -- James P. Womack, Chairman and Founder of the Lean Enterprise Institute, Inc., and co-author of Lean Thinking

"This is the best overall book on Lean management since Lean Thinking. An excellent methodical description and analysis of the Wiremold Lean journey, demonstrating the tools and leadership required to execute a Lean transformation. Like Lean Thinking, you have more `a-ha!' moments each additional time you read it. Very highly recommended." -- Kevin Meyer, Superfactory Ventures, LLC

"This is the only book I know that shows how to manage the transformation of a company from traditional manufacturing to a thoroughly Lean organization. The book contains a detailed case study of the Lean journey of The Wiremold Corporation (and its managers) from the early 1990's to the present day. Addressing such issues as the kaizen culture, Lean as a people process, customer-focused product development, providing value for your customers, and Lean accounting; this book goes way beyond the tools & methods of Lean manufacturing to the practical implementation of Lean management. I would recommend this as a `must read' for any management team serious about Lean transformation." -- Brian Maskell, President, BMA Inc., and co-author of Practical Lean Accounting

"Wiremold is one of the great pioneering examples that showed us all that Lean thinking could be done outside Toyota. It also shows what single-minded leadership can achieve in building a Lean business system that touches every aspect of the business. This book tells a very important story in the history of Lean." -- Daniel Jones, Founder, Lean Enterprise Academy, and co-author of Lean Thinking

From the Publisher

Better Thinking, Better Results won a Shingo Prize in 2003 as the first book to describe an enterprise-wide Lean transformation in a real company where both principles of Lean management - "Continuous Improvement" and "Respect for People" - were applied. There is no other book like this one.

Destined to become a Lean classic, Better Thinking, Better Results is a must-have resource for managers. The leadership lessons are invaluable for anyone involved with making the Lean management system come alive in their company.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 334 pages
• Publisher: Center for Lean Business Management, LLC, The; 2 edition (March 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972259120
• ISBN-13: 978-0972259125
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,287 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Please visit my web site, http://www.bobemiliani.com

I am a Lean leadership author, educator, researcher, and historian of progressive management. I have over 20 years of experience in aerospace, consumer products, and service industries, and have had front-line responsibility for implementing Lean principles and practices in the manufacturing shop floor, supply networks, and in higher education (academics).

My focus since the mid-1990s has been exclusively on Lean leadership. I was the first person to do this because I wanted to understand why top leaders and their organizations have such limited success with Lean management. My research has yielded many unique contributions to Lean leadership. They show what senior managers can do to become Lean leaders and provide practical and specific actions to take.

My books are unlike any others in their scope of fresh ideas and new Lean concepts and practices. They answer some of the most important questions people have, including: "How do we conduct a Lean transformation?" "How do I become a Lean leader?" "Why is the 'Respect for People' principle important?" "How do we sustain our Lean efforts?"

I am proud that readers rate my books highly and consistently characterize them as highly original, thought-provoking, and practical. And I am truly honored when people buy my books and commit their precious time to reading them. I am certain that readers will learn many new things each time they read one of books.

Check out my Lean Leadership News postings at http://www.bobemiliani.com/lln.html

Thank you,

Bob Emiliani

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute must read for the lean manager!!, December 22, 2004

By 

Lean Manufacturing Engineer "Ron" (Overland Park, KS USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Better Thinking, Better Results (Hardcover)

Emiliani et al have written a very readable, easy to understand and thorough case study of the West Hartford, CT based (at that time) privately held, Wiremold Companies lean transformation.
In 1991, the formerly successfull but now declining wire management products producer began a lean transformation which changed Wiremold into an acquisition machine that by 1999 was generating ten times the operating profit and eleven times the net profit of pre lean operations. During this period, Wiremold boasted a 23.2% compound annual growth rate.
The real benefit of reading this book are the comments by the management team explaining in their own words the reasoning behind each step in the lean transformation process.
The book includes:
1. An analysis of strategic models leading to the selection of the lean management model.
2. A financial strengths and weaknesses analysis leading to the lean transformation plan.
3. The actual lean transformation plan.
4. A discussion of the whys and wherefors of the adopted lean organization strucure.
5. How to move from an MRP push production control system to a lean flow/pull system sensibly.
6. How to practically dispose of excess inventory during the lean transformation.
7. The best way to align the workforce with the requirements of the lean organization.
8. A detailed description of a growth through acquisition strategy financed internally with the lean management process.
9. A comparison of standard cost accounting with actual cost accounting.
All in all - an absolute must read for the lean manager. Not a book for the lean practitioner.
Relevance to the lean practitioner 4/10
Relevance to the lean manager 9/10
Clarity and organization 9/10
Original content 9/10

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Managing the Lean Journey, November 24, 2003

By 

Brian Maskell (Cherry Hill, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Better Thinking, Better Results (Hardcover)

This is the only book I know that shows how to manage the transformation of a company from traditional manufacturing to a thoroughly lean organization. The book contains a detailed case study of the lean journey of the Wiremold Corporation (and it's managers) from the early 1990's to the present day. Addressing such issues as the kaizen culture, lean as a people process, customer-focused product development, providing value for your customers, and lean accounting; this book goes way beyond the tools & methods of lean manufacturing to the practical implementation of lean management. I would recommend this as a "must read" for any management team serious about lean transformation.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best since Lean Thinking, November 22, 2004

By 

Kevin Meyer "Author, Evolving Excellence" (Morro Bay, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Better Thinking, Better Results (Hardcover)

This is the best overall book on lean management since Lean Thinking. An excellent methodical description and analysis of the Wiremold lean journey, demonstrating the tools and leadership required to execute a lean transformation. Like Lean Thinking, you have more "a-ha!" moments each additional time you read it. Very highly recommended.