Learning to See: Value Stream Mapping to Add Value and Eliminate MUDA (Spiral-bound)

by Mike Rother (Author), John Shook (Author), Jim Womack (Foreword), Dan Jones (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Value-stream mapping is an overarching tool that gives managers and executives a picture of the entire production process, showing both value and nonvalue-creating activities. Rather than taking a haphazard approach to lean implementation, value-stream mapping establishes a direction for the company. Value-stream maps are the blueprints for lean transformations and Learning to See is an easy-to-read, step-by-step instruction manual that teaches this valuable tool to anyone, regardless of his or her background. This groundbreaking workbook breaks down the important concepts of value-stream mapping into an easily grasped format. The workbook is filled with actual maps, as well as engaging diagrams and illustrations. To encourage you to become actively involved in the learning process, Learning to See contains a case study based on a fictional company, Acme Stamping. Using the information from the case study, you begin by mapping the current state of the value stream, looking for all the sources of waste. After identifying the waste, you draw a map of a leaner future state and a value-stream plan to guide implementation and review progress regularly. Written by Mike Rother and John Shook -- two experts with practical experience -- the workbook makes complicated concepts simple. It teaches you the reasons for introducing a mapping program and how it fits into a lean conversion. With this easy-to-use product, a company gets the tool it needs to understand and use value-stream mapping so it can eliminate waste in production processes.

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 102 pages
• Publisher: Lean Enterprise Institute (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966784308
• ISBN-13: 978-0966784305
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,457 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #11 in	Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Industrial
  #14 in	Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Quality Control
  #15 in	Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Training

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Do It..., February 27, 2004

By	Brad Harrison (Interlochen, MI USA) - See all my reviews

I have completely worn out my copy of this book. It is the simplest, clearest, most practical book on lean that you will ever find. The first time I used the Value Stream Mapping techniques outlined in this book, I identified an improvement that has dramatically reduced our inventory, reduced lead times and saved over $500K annually.

Section III, entitled, "What Makes A value Stream Lean" is especially helpful. By doing the mapping and working toward the seven guidelines outlined in this section, we have made dramatic progress in our lean transformation. Using "Learning To See" in conjunction with another offering from the Lean Enterprise Institute ("Making Material Flow"), you can transform your plant. The only other requirement... get out from behind your desk and just do it!

I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to value stream mapping, February 8, 2001

By A Customer

The book is a good attempt at explaining how to use value stream mapping in a manufacturing plant. The format is sort like a workbook which makes it a little easier to use and also great as a teaching tool. What is lacking is more examples from a wide variety of industries from small to large so the reader can really understand how to apply the tool to their workplace. There is also a lack of application to areas outside of manufacturing where I think VSM could be applied: product design process and administrative processes. Overall it seems to be a good book, but you'll need some backup material from the web to round our your education on the subject.

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Learning To See, December 11, 2001

By A Customer

Learning to see is very helpful if you want to learn to establish value stream maps of your key processes. The book is set up like a work book and walks you through the process step by step. J. Womack is very prescriptive in how to produce value stream maps. It would be helpful to have additional examples from several industries. Value stream mapping is useful in helping to indentify areas that need improvement projects. They should be the basis for strategic plans for process improvement. This book will be helpful if you are new or trying to introduce others to the importance of value stream mapping.