Real Lean: Understanding the Lean Management System (Volume One) (Paperback)

by Bob Emiliani (Author)
Key Phrases: lean government, lean businesses, value stream maps, New York, Productivity Press, Continuous Improvement (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In REAL LEAN Understanding the Lean Management System (Volume One), Bob Emiliani explains the purposes, advantages, myths, and misinformation surrounding Lean management.

In a lively and engaging style, he answers the key questions that leaders of organizations have about Lean management. A perfect read for the busy executive.

REAL LEAN is a practical guide to understanding Lean management, complete with interesting and informative linkages to historical events and long-forgotten perspectives.

Readers will learn how the two principles of Lean management, "Continuous Improvement" and "Respect for People," work in tandem, with emphasis on "Respect for People" - the principle that is often missing from the practice of Lean management.

This small book will be a big help to leaders who want to improve their understanding and practice of Lean management.

From the Publisher
Here is what readers have said about REAL LEAN Understanding the Lean Management System (Volume One),

"I loved this book! I found it interesting and full of very valuable lessons. I have begun recommending the book to folks and tell them that if they want to really stimulate deeper thinking and understanding about Lean and business, they need to read it."

"The essays are brief yet they are meaningful and sharp enough to challenge readers. This small book could move an organization beyond what seems to be insurmountable walls if readers have the courage to heed its advice... take this book along on your next lunch hour or plane ride."

"A must read for Real Lean thinkers."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: The CLBM, LLC (January 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972259112
• ISBN-13: 978-0972259118
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #102,137 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a focus on respect for people, July 4, 2007

By	Kevin Meyer "editor of www.Superfactory.com a... (Morro Bay, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of Bob Emiliani's previous books, Better Thinking Better Results, won a Shingo Prize. In Real Lean he continues that tradition of informative and engaging writing. Each chapter is well-researched complete with thorough footnotes, with topics ranging from lean government, culture, a historical discussion on Ohno and Shingo, and especially respect for people. That last concept is a core pillar of lean manufacturing, but is often forgotten or outright ignored. As each chapter is self-contained, the book is an easy ongoing read for executives looking to fill spare time while waiting for planes and appointments.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essays on Lean, September 30, 2007

By	Mr. Ross Maynard (Glasgow, Scotland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Bob Emiliani is the author of the excellent "Better Thinking Better Results". In "Real Lean" Volumes 1 and 2 he turns his attention to a series of short essays on a broad range of areas in lean management. His arguments stress that "real lean" comprises both continuous improvement and respect for people (not just the former). He skilfully shows the roots of lean going back 100 years to Scientific Management, as well as exploring the original Japanese texts on lean from the 1980's. Waste in business, for example, is a topic that first received attention in 1925 !. Bob Emiliani also highlights the key elements in successful lean transformation and marks out the potential pitfalls and challenges any implementation may face.

The books provide an eclectic mix of essays covering a very broad range of material. They are all interesting and well written, though, if I have any criticism it is that the books lack a real focus (I would like more on how to counter the barriers identified); and probably dwell too much on the literature of the early 1900's.

The books frequently touch on the undesirable management behaviours of today's "I win you lose" world. He doesn't really give any ideas how to deal with these problems. However, I understand a third volume of "Real Lean" is due out soon and Bob's next book after that will be "Practical Lean Leadership" due in early 2008. I await these next steps with interest.

If you are an academic, student of lean, consultant or practitioner, these books are an engaging, thought provoking and easy read. They will give you a broader awareness of the evolution of lean though there is nothing here about doing lean on the shopfloor.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Understand these books for what the are: opinion, February 26, 2009

By	David M. Miller - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As an Industrial Engineer, I struggle daily with the large bouts of waste that exist in Government. I've been spending at lot of time doing research trying to tackle this seemingly endless mountain of a task.

I was lead to the Real Lean series based on a single essay about Lean Government.

Make no mistake about what this series is: a set of opinion essays on the current state of lean management (mostly in industry).

Emiliani makes many great points in his essays, while mostly singing to the choir of the Lean advocates who would pick up his book. And that's the problem. Non-lean advocates will see his essays as a rant. Emiliani is quite scathing in his criticism of US management. While he tries to keep it professional, one can easily sense a deep strain of contempt right under the surface. Thus, this book will most likely alienate the very people it needs to influence: today's managers in US industry.

Unfortunately, his essays fail in a most crucial way: effective influence for his target audience. Emiliani constantly (and rightly) advocates the virtues of non-zero sum thinking over zero-sum thinking. Yet, he himself fails to lead by his own example by using rather high handed and somewhat smug language. He approaches his writing in an "I'm right, you're wrong" type attitude (which is clearly zero-sum thinking) in a way that discredits a lot of his own quality work.

I am not a manager, but I am pretty sure Emiliani's approach here would discourage any serious consideration of any manager, fairly quickly.

While these essays are well researched, providing well thought out arguments for Emiliani's ideas, he provides next to nothing in the way of actionable advice or methods for truly combating the problems today's lean advocate's face.

Emiliani offers some fascinating insight and research pertaining to the "Scientific Management" movement of the early 20th century, and draws very interesting parallels between the issues that both, Scientific Management and Lean Management, face with regards to Industrial Management. His research is well documented and thoroughly researched.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in seeing a score card of how well Lean techniques have worked over the past 20-30 years in the US. It is a great critique, unfortunately, in the end, that's all it is.