The Kaizen Revolution (Hardcover)

~ Michael D. Regan (Author) "Cecil Langdon III, owner and CEO of Accurate Clock Company, crossed the street to West-Mart corporate headquarters in downtown Indianapolis..." (more)
Key Phrases: kaizen week, kaizen team, kaizen event, Accurate Clock Company, Frank Fowler, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The remarkable new strategy to implement lean manufacturing and improve quality, cost, and delivery. Understand why traditional improvement strategies don't work, and why Kaizen Events are the ideal tool to achieve breakthrough results. How to grow your own internal Kaizen Event leaders even if you start with outside consultants. Review a checklist of preparatory steps you must take to lead your kaizen team to success. Understand the results your Kaizen Events should deliver, and how to set achievable breakthrough goals. How to chose team members for your Kaizen Events, and why asking for volunteers is not the best answer. How to teach your team to identify and eliminate non-value-added steps, and how doing so will improve your quality, productivity, and delivery. Learn what to do each day of the Kaizen Event, and how to stay on track. How to avoid a long list of lingering action items after your Kaizen Events. How to sustain the results attained during kaizen events over the long-term. Learn the similarities and differences among lean manufacturing, JIT, demand flow, and cellular manufacturing. Gain a solid understanding of pull scheduling, one-piece continuous flow, work cells, set-up reduction, preventive maintenance, kanban, 5S and standard work. Understand the limits of Kaizen Events and how to accelerate improvement after the first two years. How to use kaizen events to improve non-manufacturing areas like product development, receiving, MIS, and accounting. And more!

About the Author

Michael D. Regan is president of Everest Consulting Group, Inc., and the author of The Journey To Teams: The New Approach to Breakthrough Business Performance. His firm specializes in using kaizen events to implement lean manufacturing and in transforming supervisors into professional coaches. His clients include GlaxoWellcome, Borg-Warner Automotive, Nortel, Cape Canaveral Air Station, and numerous automotive and aerospace suppliers. Previously he was a manager of experimental film manufacturing at Eastman Kodak Company, and he holds an MBA in Financial Economics from the University of Rochester. Michael lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife Stacey and son Jackson.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Holden Press; 1 edition (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966354974
• ISBN-13: 978-0966354973
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #483,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Kaizen Revolution, May 14, 2001

By	Ian C. Kent (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

Mr. Regan presents an easy read in novel form (ala "The Goal" by Elyahu Goldratt) giving the reader a sound introduction to the Toyota Production System (aka Lean Manufacturing). Anyone reading this book can gain a sound understanding of what steps to take, and why to take them, as you begin on the Lean journey. You'll close the back cover with an understanding of many "Lean Concepts" as well as a very sound introduction to the how and why's of preparing for and conducting a Kaizen event. The chapter summaries are very beneficial in helping you capture the nuggets of knowledge that you can easily overlook as you become engrossed in the story. Don't let this book be your only source of knowledge on TPS, but be sure to include it in your reading.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Supplemental reading, September 8, 2001

By	Stan Hollis (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Great theory, but lacks applicability. Recommended reading for those contemplating using Kaizen in the workplace. Needs to be balanced out by reading a How-to-do-it book, such as the "Kaizen Event Implementation Manual", which does help you actually conduct a perfect Kaizen event.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Leaner Approach to Lean Manufacturing, July 16, 2000

By	Mike Hostnik (Brighton, MI USA) - See all my reviews

Finally a book that makes Lean Manufacturing simple, like it should be, and utilizes Kiazen's as a process instead of a series of events. The story-like approach to instructing the principles of Lean Manufacturing and the simplified approach to the use of Kiazen will make this book a must read for all level of a manufacturing organization.

I shared this book with others in my organization and immediately they desired to get started. Any book that helps break down the resistance to Lean Manufacturing concepts and shows you how to engage your workforce and their leadership in this common goal is a winner. I highly recommend this to anyone that is struggling with implementing Lean Manufacturing in their facility.