Lean For Dummies [Paperback]

Natalie J. Sayer (Author), Bruce Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 6, 2007

Have you thought about using Lean in your business or organization, but are not really sure how to implement it? Or perhaps you’re already using Lean, but you need to get up to speed. Lean for Dummies will show you how to do more with less and create an enterprise that embraces change.

In plain-English writing, this friendly guide explores the general overview of Lean, how flow and the value stream works, and the best ways to apply Lean to your enterprise. You will understand the philosophy of Lean and adopt it not as a routine, but a way of life. This highly informative book teaches you:

• The foundation and language of Lean
• How to map the value stream and using it to your business’s advantage
• The philosophy of Kaizen
• Different tools to improve management, customer service, and flow and pull
• How to “Go Lean” within your business and across the industry
• Avoid common mistakes in implementation
• Seek out resources for assistance

This simple, continuous improvement approach that minimizes waste and adds customer value is changing organizations of all sizes all over the world. Lean for Dummies will show you to take charge and engage your enterprise in a Lean transformation!

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Create a culture that embraces change

The fun and easy way to do more with less

Competitive pressures force everyone to satisfy more demanding customers while using less of everything — time, energy, space, materials, and money. This no-nonsense guide shows you how to apply the proven philosophies and techniques of Lean to eliminate waste and maximize the effectiveness of your resources. You'll see step-by-step how to implement Lean practices in any type of organization.

Discover how to

• Understand Lean and how it?s implemented
• Speak the language of Lean
• Identify and eliminate the seven forms of waste
• Construct and use Value Stream Maps and other Lean tools
• Engage people in a Lean transformation

About the Author

Natalie J. Sayer began studying and applying Lean before it was formally known as Lean. Over her 20-year career in the automotive industry in the United States and Mexico, Natalie honed her skills applying Lean and Organizational Development methods across functional areas of Fortune 130 companies. In 1996, Natalie was an instrumental team member in the Lean transformation of a GM facility in Matamoros, Mexico. The team was awarded the 1996 GM President’s Council Honors for the project. While working with General Motors, she had multiple opportunities to visit and learn from New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI). Natalie has trained, coached, mentored, and rolled up her sleeves to implement Lean practices, whether working in a company or volunteering at a food bank.
She received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton in 1988 and a Master of Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1992. She is a graduate of Coach University and Corporate Coach University. Natalie is also a Six Sigma Black Belt and a Global Leadership Executive Coach.
In 2003, Natalie founded I-Emerge, an Arizona-based global consultancy dedicated to the facilitation of people and processes experiencing significant change. The I-Emerge toolbox includes executive and personal coaching, group facilitation, Lean methods, public speaking, and Organizational Development tools and assessments. She is a passionate people person, who lives her life with the convictions that “there is always a better way” and “change won’t happen without the people.”

Bruce Williams strives for perfection and added value as a scientist, educator, consultant, and entrepreneur. Leveraging the Lean principle of standardized work, this is his third For Dummies book in three years, having previously coauthored the best-selling Six Sigma For Dummies in 2005 and the Six Sigma Workbook For Dummies in 2006.
Undergraduate degrees in physics and astrophysics from the University of Colorado testify to his early pursuit of understanding the ultimate nature of root cause.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (March 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470099313
• ISBN-13: 978-0470099315
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,177 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Quality Control

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent overview of the critical tools and concepts, July 5, 2007

By 

RRBM (U.S.A./CANADA/MEXICO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lean For Dummies (Paperback)

In the 25 years that I have spent in the manufacturing industry I have read several books on lean and none approach the practical and yet thorough rendition of this intricate and multidimensional concept. It flows in a most logical way and offers the reader salient applications of the concepts while provoking ones own thoughts and ideas. In many ways its style is reminiscent of Deming, in Out of Chaos where the transformation of the enterprise is not some ethereal act of consultants but the dedicated efforts of an enlightened and energized workforce who lives manufacturing day in and day out. Fundamental concepts are clear, excellently explained and highly organized. Lean for Dummies is obviously written by two individuals with truly empirical hands on manufacturing experience for people who vitally desire needed improvements in our hyper competitive world..I am personally so very glad to have this new and refreshing powerful book for use in our business...ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT,INNOVATIVE, AND ENLIGHTENING... WE SHALL USE IT IN OUR FORTUNE 25 FIRM !!! WE STRONGLY SUGGEST A VERSION IN SPANISH AND LOOK FORWARD TO ITS PUBLICATION!

Thank you -

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reader Review for LEAN for Dummies, April 3, 2007

By 

Kirk J. Gould (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lean For Dummies (Paperback)

I have had this book for a few weeks now. It provides countless ways to look at what we do in business and apply common sense solutions to the issues we face. For instance, the authors make the clarification between CUSTOMER and CONSUMER. I have often gotten the two confused. There are so many ideas packed into this volume that I cannot read all the way through it in one sitting. I prefer to read a bit, digest it, then apply it. The book explains the origin of LEAN from the Toyota Production System and from many of the US Quality gurus before that.

What is very apparent to readers of the book, is that respect for the fellow worker is a cornerstone of the lean philosophy. This provides a strong foundation on which to build a company. People feel secure to do things more quickly and more economically, thus transforming their company into a well oiled machine capable of taking on more work and selling more product at a higher quality level. The motivation, excitement, and results are apparent. Toyota is currently surpassing the other US automakers in sales and quality. They are not laying off, they are building new plants.

Another outcome is that empowerment occurs to front line employees who are given lean principles and tools to work with.

The authors have extensive experience in manufacturing, scientific work, Six Sigma, Business Process Management, and other process centric topics. This allows them to compare LEAN to the other methodologies that complement it.

I recommend reading this if you are a top executive, a middle manager, or a front line worker. Office workers especially can benefit from process improvements made using lean tools. One huge benefit of LEAN is that it does not require much of a budget. Actually, it creates revenue often by creating new capacity within a company. It works for Profit and Non-Profit entities. (It even works for your home life!)

This is a great initial text on LEAN and an excellent reference as well. Happy Leaning!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars managerial overview, July 7, 2007

By 

Gormenghast (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lean For Dummies (Paperback)

This is a useful introduction to the concepts, philosophy, and general approach of Lean. It does not scare people off with formulas, and has very few of them. This is ultimately a negative factor because more technical detail in the right place would have been a helpful bridge toward actually trying to do something with Lean. I think one of the things that comes through if you read the book a couple of times is that lean manufacturing would be very tough to fully adopt at most American companies because it is often at odds with traditional accounting measures and corporate organizational structures--- and one of the original lean priniciples is respect and long-term development for workers, another alien concept.