Andy & Me: Crisis And Transformation On The Lean Journey (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Andy & Me ,captures the opportunities and pitfalls in the journey of lean transformation. It is set in a real world plant environment that deals with physical, operational and emotional challenges. The story format engages, teaches and entertains the reader."
Anne Stevens, Group VP, Canada, Mexico and S. America, Ford Motor Company, January 15, 2005

"… one of the best books I’ve read in a long time on the subject of Lean and the Toyota Production System. Don’t be fooled by how simplistic some of the author’s solutions appear. If properly taught, and then religiously utilized, they will significantly improve your organization. Pascal Dennis is not only a seasoned ‘Sensei’ but a good storyteller as well."
Steve Pontbriand, Senior Vice President, Systems Control, January 15, 2005

"I do not usually like business novels because the story gets in the way of the ideas. Andy and Me is the exception. This short and readable book does a wonderful job of explaining the transformation of a production plant to the Toyota approach to lean manufacturing."
Brian Maskell, Co-Author, Practical Lean Accounting, May 16, 2005

"Highly recommended. I just received this and tore through it. The book is a quick and light read, although youll want to stop and let some of the TPS concepts sink in and re-read certain sections and illustrations."
Mark Graban, Phoenix, Arizona, July 7, 2005

Product Description

Based on the author's personal experience with Toyota senseis and with companies in the midst of great change, Andy & Me is a business novel set in a failing New Jersey auto plant focusing on the tribulations of Tom Pappas, the plant manager. The situations, characters and plant "politics" will ring true with many readers.

In a cool, readable style, Andy & Me follows Tom's relationship with Andy Saito, a reclusive, retired Toyota guru whom Tom persuades to help save his plant through the "teaching" of legendary Toyota Production System (TPS).

On this journey, the reader learns that TPS is more than just a collection of tools; it entails a new way of thinking and behaving. Though Tom finds success — both in his plant and in his personal life — he learns from Andy that successful improvement is "endless and eternal."

Product Details

• Paperback: 183 pages
• Publisher: Productivity Press; 1 edition (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563272989
• ISBN-13: 978-1563272981
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,544 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent explanation of the "why's" of the Toyota system, March 12, 2005

By	Brian Maskell (Cherry Hill, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I do not usually like "business novels" because the story gets in the way of the ideas. "Andy & Me" is the exception. This short and readable book does a wonderful job of explaining the transformation of a production plant to the Toyota apporach to lean manufacturing. Reading this you will learn about a number of the lean "tools" but the book is not about lean tools, it is about why those tools are needed and why they work. It is also good to see a lean manufacturing book that recognizes the issues and problems of traditional cost accounting. I recommend this excellent book to anyone on the lean journey.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insights into the "Thinking Production System", March 24, 2005

By	Mark Graban "www.leanblog.org, www.leanhospit... (Keller TX and Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Highly recommended. I just received this and tore through it. The book is a quick and light read, although you'll want to stop and let some of the TPS concepts sink in and re-read certain sections and illustrations. The story in this business novel is about on par with "The Goal", but it's easy enough to skip over the storyline (divorced Plant Manager fighting to see his kids, etc.) to read the real meat of the story -- insights and real day to day examples of PDCA and leadership models of lean/TPS. This book focuses on Hoshin planning and day-to-day leadership of a plant going through the lean transformation. The only reasons I give this 4 stars instead of 5 are A) the storyline in business novels like this always seem a bit forced and B) the book tends to shortchange the change management challenges -- people in the book tend to jump on board with the TPS immediately, testament I guess to the leadership of the Plant Manager and the Toyota Sensei, but not typical of all lean implementations. Details such as "I had to get rid of some people" are somewhat glossed over and could have been fleshed out in more detail (this is a short book). Still, this is a good complement to The Toyota Way and other detailed books on lean tools and practices.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars light on novel medium on lean, February 24, 2009

By	P. OReilly (Eastern Maryland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It a lean framework with a bit of novel draped over it. It's a quick easy read, and maybe being fictional makes is an easier read. There were some new presentations of lean concepts that I hadn't seen before, so that was somewhat helpful. Is it a top 5 "have to read" Lean reference, No. Is it a pleasant read and can you learn something useful, yes, definitely.