Product Development for the Lean Enterprise: Why Toyota's System is Four Times More Productive and How You Can Implement It Review

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(More customer reviews)Michael Kennedy's book, Product Development for the Lean Enterprise, gives an experienced insight into the dilemma faced by some of North America's largest organizations, those who have embraced management science in all of its complexity to win national awards, only to find they are unable to compete successfully at the customer level. Using an engaging fictional narrative, Kennedy provides a fresh insight into product development; this book will challenge your beliefs and understanding and likely intrigue you sufficiently to investigate how aspects of the process can be made applicable in your enterprise. It is a treasure trove of information on, not just its principal topic, Toyota's unique product development process, but details on establishing and operating "a process renewal team" and "large group interventions for organizational change".
In Michael Kennedy's very readable book, one is introduced to Toyota's design concepts, unconventional to the majority of us in corporate North America. Imagine your product development process stipulating:
*explore not one, but multiple design solutions at the same time;
*delay the design's narrowing process to as late as possible in the process;
*demand the building and testing of multiple design models and prototypes for performance conformity;
*have the development, retention and reuse of engineering knowledge and skills a top priority for the company;
*eliminate the use of complex integrated task based program and plans by delegating each program designer to prepare his/her own time-lines to meet fixed review dates and performance levels; and
*have functional engineering managers focus on teaching and mentoring engineering talent, not administration.
In addition to product development, Kennedy's book gives the reader an overview of change management issues from strategy, to personal and political conflict, to presentation and implementation tactics. The book stimulates thought; it proposes possibilities; it gives a glimpse into the future of an enlightened company's product development process. It is beyond a wake-up-call; it is mental nourishment to everyone whose enterprise relies on engineered products.

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Lean For Dummies Review

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(More customer reviews)In the 25 years that I have spent in the manufacturing industry I have read several books on lean and none approach the practical and yet thorough rendition of this intricate and multidimensional concept. It flows in a most logical way and offers the reader salient applications of the concepts while provoking ones own thoughts and ideas. In many ways its style is reminiscent of Deming, in Out of Chaos where the transformation of the enterprise is not some ethereal act of consultants but the dedicated efforts of an enlightened and energized workforce who lives manufacturing day in and day out. Fundamental concepts are clear, excellently explained and highly organized. Lean for Dummies is obviously written by two individuals with truly empirical hands on manufacturing experience for people who vitally desire needed improvements in our hyper competitive world..I am personally so very glad to have this new and refreshing powerful book for use in our business...ABSOLUTELY EXCELLENT,INNOVATIVE, AND ENLIGHTENING... WE SHALL USE IT IN OUR FORTUNE 25 FIRM !!! WE STRONGLY SUGGEST A VERSION IN SPANISH AND LOOK FORWARD TO ITS PUBLICATION!
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Have you thought about using Lean in your business or organization, but are not really sure how to implement it? Or perhaps you're already using Lean, but you need to get up to speed. Lean for Dummies will show you how to do more with less and create an enterprise that embraces change.
In plain-English writing, this friendly guide explores the general overview of Lean, how flow and the value stream works, and the best ways to apply Lean to your enterprise. You will understand the philosophy of Lean and adopt it not as a routine, but a way of life. This highly informative book teaches you:
The foundation and language of Lean
How to map the value stream and using it to your business's advantage
The philosophy of Kaizen
Different tools to improve management, customer service, and flow and pull
How to "Go Lean" within your business and across the industry
Avoid common mistakes in implementation
Seek out resources for assistance

This simple, continuous improvement approach that minimizes waste and adds customer value is changing organizations of all sizes all over the world. Lean for Dummies will show you to take charge and engage your enterprise in a Lean transformation!

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Just-In-Time for Today and Tomorrow (Japanese Management Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)
Just-in-time for today and tomorrow is Taiichi Ohno's least known book. His Toyota Production System is still in print and Workplace Management was retranslated, while this one is out of print and not too common. I'd say that JIT for today and tomorrow is also the least good of the three books.
The book is written in a rather weird format. Every chapter (there is just three of them) starts of with a theme. Then a dialog between Taiichi Ohno and Setsuo Mito. After the dialog there are some notes which seem to be written by Setsuo Mito (which makes him the main author and Ohno just verbally involved).
The first chapter mainly talks about JIT. The second chapter focuses on being driven by the customer. The customer should pull the products. The third chapter talks about gemba management. One of the more interesting things of the book is the talk and comparison between TPS and the Japanese seven eleven stores. It explains how both of them have the same purpose and came to the same conclusions. This is interesting since it seems to mirror somewhat the discussions in Lean Solutions book from Womack and Jones, published 20 years later. In that sense, the book was ahead of its time.
This book is a must read for lean experts or TPS experts, though I would not recommend it for most other people. It's better to read the other two Ohno books; they have more valuable content than JIT for today and tomorrow.

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