Lean Evolution: Lessons from the Workplace

by Nick Rich, Nicola Bateman, Ann Esain, Lynn Massey, Donna Samuel

Overview

Lean thinking is a powerful method that allows organizations to improve the productivity, efficiency and quality of their products or services. Achieving these benefits requires good teamwork, clear communication, intelligent use of resources and a commitment to continuous improvement. This book shows how lean thinking can be applied in practice, highlighting the key challenges and pitfalls. The authors, based at a leading centre for lean enterprise research, begin with an overview of the theory of lean thinking. They then explain the core tools and techniques and show how they can be applied successfully. The detailed implementation of lean thinking is illustrated by several case studies, from a range of industries, in which the authors had unprecedented access to the management teams. With its focus on implementation and practical solutions, this book will appeal to managers at all levels, as well as to business students and researchers in lean thinking.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107407190
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	09/13/2012
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	228
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Nick Rich is RCUK Innovative Manufacturing Fellow and Director of the Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre, Cardiff University.

Nicola Bateman is a senior research fellow at the Lean Enterprise Research Centre, Cardiff University.

Ann Essain is a senior research fellow at the Lean Enterprise Research Centre, Cardiff University.

Lynn Massey is a post doctoral fellow at the School of International Business, Queensland University of Technology.

Donna Samuel is a senior research associate at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. Understanding the lean journey; 3. Understanding your organisation; 4. Laying the foundation stone of CANDO; 5. Visual management and performance measurement; 6. Problem-solving, TQM, and six sigma; 7. Pull systems; 8. Total productive manufacturing (TPM); 9. Sustainability; 10. Group learning; 11. Final words; References.

Editorial Reviews

"This book shows how lean thinking can be applied in practice, highlighting key challenges and pitfalls."
-Abstracts of Public Administration, Development, and Environment

From the Publisher