Book Reviews
Recommended Reading / Resources:
We will be posting what we consider to be some of the better resources covering Lean Manufacturing, Execution, and Leadership Skills Development. Click here to visit our book store for additional selections and reference materials.
- The Goal by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt. Simply one of the best books on the market that explains manufacturing principles in a clear and concise manner. This is an all time favorite and a must read for any plant or operations manager. If you work in manufacturing or operations – you need this book!
- Make or Break: How Manufacturers Can Leap from Decline to Revitalization (Future of Business Series) by Kaj Grichnik. This book is one of the that delivers a clear and conscise message about the current state of manufacturing. There are few people that really “get it”, these guys do. A great read that provides amazing insights that are relevant and timely. Although the book was released prior to the great automotive crisis, the essence of the current turmoil is certainly eluded to in the text.
- Instant Turnaround by Harry Paul and Ross Reck, PH.D. Getting people excited about coming to work and working hard. You will learn how to tap into and harness the discretionary effort of everyone on your team. This book tells a story that reveals how your leadership style and that of your frontline management team affects and directly impacts the performance of your team. This leadership style works. A lean culture is dependent on the engagement and effective interactions of all of your employees – including the executive management. This book teaches a simple yet powerful strategy to tap into and harness the discretionary effort that every employee is wanting and willing to give - if the conditions are right.
- Lean Manufacturing That Works by Bill Carreira. Powerful Tools for Dramatically Reducing Waste and Maximizing Profits. This is a must read “hands-on” book that presents a very clear and concise Lean strategy that takes Lean to the core of your business. An excellent presentation of the basic tools and their use using real life examples to convey their application. The approach is realistic and practical, the tools are excellent, and the results are believable. This book is great for the Lean Practitioner looking for an approach or the general population looking to learn more about Lean and anyone in between.
- Lean Thinking by James P. Womack and Daniel T. Jones. Eliminating waste lies at the core of this book. A must have book for any company seriously looking to take Lean head on.
- Going Lean by Stephen A. Ruffa. Another superb lean reference, this book presents a conceptual look at Lean principles and the successes enjoyed by well known companies in diverse businesses. Stephen has found the thread that magically ties all of these companies together while they appear to be so different at the surface.
- Lean Six Sigma by Michael L. George. Combining Six Sigma Quality with Lean Speed. Achieve major cost, inventory, and lead time reductions in less than a year. This book builds on the concept that Lean and Six Sigma are complementary to improving your business and eliminating waste.
- The Elegant Solution by Matthew E. May. Toyota’s Formula for Mastering Innovation. A fresh perspective to sustaining continual improvement through innovation in your organization. This is an excellent book and well worth the read. Matthew gains a perspective from inside Toyota that few authors have had the opportunity to experience or convey in writing.
- A Sense of Urgency by John P. Kotter. John does a great job presenting what “The sense of urgency” is and looks like. Join provides relevant insight to create the urgency every business needs to stay on top of their game.
Get it now: The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement
Get it now: Make or Break: How Manufacturers Can Leap from Decline to Revitalization (Future of Business Series)
Get it now: Instant Turnaround!: Getting People Excited About Coming to Work and Working Hard
Get it now: Lean Manufacturing That Works: Powerful Tools for Dramatically Reducing Waste and Maximizing Profits
Get it now: Lean Thinking : Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation, Revised and Updated
Get it now: Lean Six Sigma
Get it now: The Elegant Solution: Toyota’s Formula for Mastering Innovation
Get it now: A Sense of Urgency
The above list is certainly not exhaustive, but certainly serves as a solid base on which to build. A paraphrased “Druckerism”: To efficiently do what is not required is to diminish your effectiveness. Study the few and true lean references and accomplish much or read the many and accomplish little.
Books currently under review:
- Chasing The Rabbit by Steven J. Spear, forward by Clayton M. Christensen. How Market Leaders Outdistance the Competition and How Great Companies Can Catch Up and Win. This book presents insights from a diverse range of companies and industries while sharing their common threads of success. The book appears to present the basis for a transformation strategy that will take your business and culture to the next level. This book tempts to be a valuable read.
- The Big Idea by Donny Deutsch with Catherine Whitney. How to Make Your Entrepreneurial Dreams Come True, From the AHA Moment to Your First Million. This book is both a source of inspiration and strategy to launch the “Big Idea”. The topic of the book is inspiring and the endorsements are impressive but something seems set this book apart from others in the same category. We’ll have to read the book to see if it can deliver on its promises.
Get it now: The BIG IDEA, How to Make Your Engrepreneurial Dreams Come True, From the AHA Moment to Your First Million
Your Recommendations:
If you would like to recommend a book, leave a comment or send an e-mail with your recommendation to LeanExecution@gmail.com
Click here to visit our book store for additional selections and reference materials.
