Customer Reviews

Lean Strategies for Product Development: Achieving Breakthrough Performance in Bringing Products to Market

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This book does not even scratch the surface of Lean, not talking of Lean Product Development. It is a low quality, narrow-scope collection of everyday knowledge. Read any other work on Product Development or Process Optimization to learn more than what is offered here.

Don't waste your time or money on this lightweight. I would never have finished it except it's the only thing I brought with me on the plane. It made the Skymall magazine look pretty good! So-called product development "concepts" introduced (modular design, platform design, custom design) are nothing more than common sense and already in practice widely. The book goes on to describe a needlessly complex system of databases with names like "technical requirements flow-down matrix", "product experience domain", and "component design compliance matrix". This isn't Lean at all. This is creation of muda - wasted effort. And the story-telling approach which unfolds as a conversation between two engineers is literally painful to read. It sounds nothing like any natural conversation I've ever heard. It's thin, it's light, it's cheap, and it's worthless. Stay away.

What a great read! Fiore's Lean Strategies for Product Development provides excellent insight regarding the application of lean concepts in product development. Recognizing that product knowledge and information is the backbone of the development process, Fiore introduces three design strategies (modular, platform, and custom) that utilize product knowledge and information that will enable company's to reduce product development cycle time and cost. The strategies are supported by different tools that are introduced explained throughout the book.

In addition, the book demonstrates the role that software tools play enabling product development practitioners to efficiently and effectively find product knowledge and information that is need to support the development process. Finally, the book also demonstrates how product knowledge can be leveraged to integrate supply chain activities for selecting suppliers and reducing part procurement cost.

The concepts introduced throughout the book are weaved into a story between a customer and supplier. Not only was this an effective way to introduce the material, but it was also a very enjoyable and easy read. If you liked "The Goal" - you'll like this book. Everyone reading this book will come away with an understanding of how to apply lean in product development!

"Lean Strategies for Product Development" is a small, beautifully printed soft-cover paperback that you could pick up and read while waiting for your flight in the airport and may be finish by the time you reach your destination after about an hour. However, you may need to reread it a couple of times to really appreciate and fully absorb the important concepts presented therein. In 11 chapters spread over just 62 pages, Cliff succeeds in presenting lucidly some very important concepts and methodologies for faster and better product development. These are aptly called Lean Strategies since they tend to make the organization lean by reducing flab and wastage of resources. An analogy that comes to mind is how a small torpedo boat is much more nimble when compared to a bulky aircraft carrier, or how a lean and fit man can outrun and outmanouver a flabby, overweight opponent in boxing. The need for faster, leaner product development teams that can come up with smart and cost-effective designs to withstand intense competition is very well brought out.

The book resembles the well-known business novel "The Goal" in style, though the story line is not as strong as that book. The tone is quite conversational and most of the time, the text is easy to follow. The examples are quite meaningful and with only a little rereading, it is possible for the strategy to be understood. The contents and a sample chapter of the book can be accessed by clicking on the following link:

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In addition to the 11 chapters, the book has appendices including a Glossary, Product Development Approach Summary, Examples of Waste, Value Stream Map Examples, Common Product Development Problems, Product Development Maturity Path, References and at the very end, a very useful index.

I especially liked the chapters on Modular design, Platform Design and The Lean and Six Sigma Connection. I also liked Cliff's emphasis on the imperative need to capture knowledge (Knowledge Management if you prefer). I feel many of the existing organizations, even large ones, neglect this area. As Ken Hawkins, the Project Engineer of Donetics in the book rightly remarks, knowledge goes into a black-hole, never to come out again!

As an editor, I found a few places where I felt that the text could have been edited better. But in general, there is no difficulty in understanding the message.

All in all, I have no hesitation in recommending this book to individuals, organizations and libraries.

S.V.Swamy

About the reviewer: I am a Physicist and a metallurgist by education and has spent almost all of 37 years in Quality Control, Quality Assurance with special emphasis on various aspects of material testing. My other interests include training and general management. Presently I am actively involved in Human Resource Development and Corporate Communications in a large organization in India. The above views are my own and do not in any way reflect the views of my organization.