Drawing on in-depth interviews with some of the best known Lean-practicing CEOs, this groundbreaking book shows how to implement lean in virtually every type of company and facet of the organization The power of lean to build world-class performance requires a corporate-wide commitment to long term continuous improvement that very few organizations have made.The Lean CEO bridges the gap between lean and conventional management practices in a way that addresses the specific needs of executives. Filled with narratives from leaders who have taken the lean journey with great success, The Lean CEO offers a detailed account of how top executives have reconciled lean activity with traditional management practices in order to meet broad corporate objectives. Readers learn how to use lean to eliminate waste, reduce costs, spark innovation, improve quality and delivery, engage employees, and build a sustainable future. Jacob Stoller is a business journalist with expertise in implementing lean throughout entire organizations.

THE C-LEVEL GUIDE TO SUCCEEDING WITH LEAN "With 30 years of accumulated experience, Art Byrne is one of the rare few people who can speak with authority about the pitfalls of fi nancial measurement systems, the importance of respect for people, the power of Lean in the marketplace, and the leverage from organizing people around value streams. When he writes 'Go to the Gemba and Run Your Kaizen,' we must take heed." -- MASAAKI IMAI, bestselling author of Kaizen and Gemba Kaizen "In this wonderful and important book, Byrne shows us that Lean management, understood and practiced correctly, consistently delivers spectacular results." -- BOB EMILIANI, author, Better Thinking, Better Results, and Professor, Connecticut State University "A compelling picture of how Lean techniques and attitudes enable CEOs and senior executives to create a culture for transforming a company and putting it on a highperformance path." -- JERRY J. JASINOWSKI, former President of the National Association of Manufacturers "Art Byrne provides real-world examples of how he exhibited the wisdom and courage to do the right thing, improving work practices at all levels of the organization to deliver the right results for all stakeholders. Which comes first, the wisdom or the courage? Read The Lean Turnaround to find out." -- JOHN SHOOK, Chairman and CEO, Lean Enterprise Institute "Lean is the closest thing to magic I have experienced in my 40 years in business. I recommend Lean and this book to everyone responsible for the performance of a business, particularly those in private equity like me, where leverage magnifies the importance of cash." -- JOHN CHILDS, founder and CEO, of J. W. Childs Associates L.P. "A must-read for any leader interested in understanding the strategic advantages from focusing on activities that add value to the customer experience." -- GARY S. KAPLAN, MD, Chairman and CEO of the Virginia Mason Health System Lean isn't just for manufacturing anymore . . . Few business leaders in the world have applied Lean strategy as successfully as Art Byrne has--and none has the ability to explain how to do it with such succinctness and clarity. Famous for turning around the wire management company Wiremold, where he rethought every aspect of operations from the customer's standpoint--and got everyone else in the company to do likewise--Byrne has successfully implemented Lean strategies in more than 30 companies in 14 different countries. In The Lean Turnaround, this legendary business leader shares everything he has learned during his remarkable career and shows how anyone can achieve similar results. His primary message is this: Lean strategy isn't just for manufacturing. In fact, Byrne is using this very approach in his present position at a private equity firm. Whatever type of company you run, Lean can be used to improve virtually every aspect of operations, from training and leading employees to accounting and payroll issues. The Lean Turnaround explains all the ins and outs of applying Lean strategy to: Eliminate waste in every value-added operation Deliver consistent value to customers Stimulate growth and add jobs Increase wealth for all your stakeholders Build a company culture of continuous improvement (kaizen) Instead of attempting to get customers to conform to your way of doing things--which is, sadly, what most managers are taught to do--you need to configure your company to be responsive to the customers. This is at the core of Byrne's method--and it always works.

As organizations strive to do more with less, many are turning to Lean methodology, which is based on the same techniques that propelled the legendary turnaround of Japan's industrial sector after World War II. Few leaders, however, understand that the real secret behind Lean is a comprehensive approach to management that differs significantly from what is taught in business school. Lean initiatives, consequently, are rarely led by senior management, and seldom lead to significant change. The Lean CEO reveals the true power of Lean through in-depth interviews with CEOs who have gone beyond tool adoption and established Lean as a corporate-wide management system. The all-star cast of twenty-eight leaders represents a wide variety of organizations, including global manufacturers Ingersoll-Rand and Barry-Wehmiller, healthcare icons Thedacare and Virginia Mason, the states of Connecticut and Washington, historical icons such as Wiremold, and many more. In a series of provocative chapters, the CEOs tell in their own words how they applied Lean management to deliver sustainable financial results, empower and motivate employees, break down internal silos, and build solid partnerships with customers and suppliers. Their testimony provides a goldmine of practical advice for managers in Lean and non-Lean organizations alike as they share their unique personal insights on topics such as: Leading and empowering people. Building transparency and trust. Tuning into the customer experience. Aligning strategic direction with day-to-day operations. Instilling a corporate-wide culture that promotes safety and quality. Creating a learning organization Thoughtful, sometimes brutally frank, these leaders challenge many of the sacred cows of traditional business, such as standard cost accounting, hierarchical management, emphasis on large batches, and our obsession with data and computers. Citing numerous examples from their experience, they provide a fresh view of today's business challenges and a positive roadmap for any organization that is striving for excellence.

Updated with new information, illustrations, and leadership tools, Leading the Lean Enterprise Transformation, Second Edition describes how the metrics used by Toyota drive every line item in a financial statement in the right direction. Rather than focus on Lean tools and principles, the new edition of this bestselling reference focuses on what may be the least understood and most critical aspect of a Lean transformation: the building of a Lean culture. In addition to new appendices with background information and insightful stories on Lean leadership and implementation, it includes new information on tactical organization practices, strategy deployment, and Lean culture. An inductee to IndustryWeek's Hall of Fame, George Koenigsaecker illustrates successful strategies and valuable lessons learned with case histories of U.S. leaders who have been instrumental in bringing Lean to the forefront. He explains the use of value stream analysis at the leadership level and describes how to structure kaizen events that can improve the value stream. Organized in the chronological sequence that a leader embarking on a Lean journey would experience, the book discusses the methods used by the author during the Hon Company’s successful Lean conversion, which doubled productivity, tripled revenues, and led IndustryWeek to recognize Hon as one of the "World’s 100 Best Managed Firms." The book not only introduces powerful leadership tools—including strategy deployment, transformation value stream analysis, and transformation plan of care—but also arms potential change agents with the soft skills needed to define, develop, and communicate their vision. Detailing the steps required to sustain improvements, it supplies time-tested guidance for effective leadership throughout a Lean transformation in any organization.

Presented from the perspective of practitioners, researchers and academics, The Ten Commandments of Lean Six Sigma serves as a practical guide for senior managers and executives who want to achieve operational and service excellence in various manufacturing, service and public sector organizations.

Bring the miracle of Lean Six Sigma improvement out of manufacturing and into services Much of the U.S. economy is now based on services rather than manufacturing. Yet the majority of books on Six Sigma and Lean--today's major quality improvement initiatives--explain only how to implement these techniques in a manufacturing environment. Lean Six Sigma for Services fills the need for a service-based approach, explaining how companies of all types can cost-effectively translate manufacturing-oriented Lean Six Sigma tools into the service delivery process. Filled with case studies detailing dramatic service improvements in organizations from Lockheed Martin to Stanford University Hospital, this bottom-line book provides executives and managers with the knowledge they need to: Reduce service costs by 30 to 60 percent Improve service delivery time by 50 percent Expand capacity by 20 percent without adding staff

The Tale of Technology is an important source in the context of understanding the evolving landscape of information technology (IT). The book is easy to understand and is a valuable source of information for individuals and entities engaged in or exploring the technology industry. The significance of this book is rooted in 2 main trends: a careful examination of current IT trends and an exploration of emerging technologies pushing to reshape the IT sector in the next 10 years. It is a must-have on the shelves for Aspiring Individuals: The book is relevant for anyone with the ambition to embark on a business journey within the technology industry. Serves as a foundation guide for those considering a career or a business in the tech sector. Business Leaders: The book is recommended for leaders in key roles across various functions within technology companies, such as individuals overseeing Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Product Development, Services, Operations, and Finance. Entrepreneurs: The book is valuable for entrepreneurs actively involved in establishing and developing their technology-focused businesses. The details in every chapter address strategic, operational, and visionary aspects of entrepreneurship in the tech sector. Professionals: The book is beneficial for professionals contributing to different functions within an organization indicating a broad applicability of the scenarios quoted in the book, suggesting insights and knowledge applicable across diverse roles within a tech-centric enterprise. Startups: Those at the inception of their business journey within the technology industry are encouraged to consider this book an essential resource. The content is tailored to provide insights and guidance relevant to startup ventures' unique challenges and opportunities. A captivating collection of ten thought-provoking chapters on technology and the connected business. This meticulously researched and well-peer-reviewed guide offers an insightful journey through the intricate world of technology business in the 21st century. Explore everything from the origins of industrial revolutions to the complexities of today’s IT landscapes. Consider it your curated guide to understanding the powerful interplay between Information Technology and Business.