Lean Thinking

Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation, Revised and Updated

By: James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones

Narrated by: James P. Womack

Expanded, updated, and more relevant than ever, this bestselling business classic by two internationally renowned management analysts shows how companies of any size in any industry can seize opportunities in the post-bubble economy.

Instead of constantly reinventing business models, lean thinkers go back to basics by asking what the customer really perceives as value. The next step is to line up value-creating activities for a specific product along a value stream while eliminating activities (usually the majority) that don't add value. Then the lean thinker creates a flow condition in which the design and the product advance smoothly and rapidly at the pull of the customer (rather than the push of the producer). Finally, as flow and pull are implemented, the lean thinker speeds up the cycle of improvement in pursuit of perfection. The first part of this book describes each of these concepts and makes them come alive with striking examples.

Lean Thinking clearly demonstrates that these simple ideas can breathe new life into any company in any industry in any country. But most managers need guidance on how to make the lean leap in their firm. Part II provides a step-by-step action plan, based on in-depth studies of more than fifty lean companies in a wide range of industries across the world.

Even those readers who believe they have embraced lean thinking will discover in Part III that another dramatic leap is possible by creating an extended lean enterprise for each of their product families that tightly links value-creating activities from raw materials to customer.

In Part IV, an epilogue to the original edition, the story of lean thinking is brought up-to-date with an enhanced action plan based on the experiences of a range of lean firms since the original publication of the book.

©1996, 2003 James Womack and Daniel Jones (P)2003 Simon & Schuster Inc. All Rights Reserved. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Good Lesson, Hard to connect to service business

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Applicability to a small service oriented business is difficult, but like any good education--sometimes you have to think out of the box. Worthwhile read/listen.

like the author, but not this book.

Struggled to finish this book, his other books are better. There's some good concepts in here. Not as focused as it could have been.

Excellent Summary of Lean

All what lean is about in a nutshell. Being an experience operations person, I think you can always use a good refresher of all lean concepts.
Highly recommend this book both to experienced and beginners in the lean field.

A good 2nd book you read for lean, tons of info.

This book is very rich in TPS concepts. A total beginner in Lean Management may start with The Remedy by Dennis Pascal or 2 second Lean and then this book. Great book, it's contents can make and save business owners money, as well as make customers happy.

Absolute addition to any rain practitioners personal library

As a Lean 6-Signa Master Black Belt and practitioner for over 14 years I find Womack‘s teachings and hands-on explanation of Lean principles and examples second to none. Whether you are new to the Lean community or a seasoned veteran this books would be a timeless addition to your library and tool belt.

An eye opening must-read for Lean enthusiasts

Following on from their first book the authors bring home the ideas of Lean by exploring real world businesses and case studies. This provides a framework for the lean leader to move forward and begin to change their business.

An OK book.

I think it was a mistake to have the author read his book. He has the inflexion of a seasoned businessman who is talking to you at a bar. He is believable but still not a professional voice reader. The content itself is interesting but I think it changes focus and style enough to be distracting. It may go from explaining Japanese-inspired business principles to extremely detailed descriptions of the smelting of bauxite. It made me wonder if the book was aimed to general readership or only to executives that own manufacturing plants. But some interesting information can be extracted.

A must for any business.

Just as relevant today as it was 20 years ago. For context, it may be helpful to read The Machine That Changed the World first.

Lean Thinking

An absolute classic and must have for any business book shelf (or digital library). Highly recommended

Great but it can have better audio

The book itself is great, it gives you the lean process and tools you need and also huge examples to put it in practice, however the audio voice is boring, it felt like the author didn't care at all about the whole thing. Other than that it is great.