Lean Thinking Audiobook By James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones cover art

Lean Thinking

Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation, 2nd Ed

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Lean Thinking

By: James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones
Narrated by: James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones
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Expanded, updated, and more relevant than ever, this bestselling business classic by two internationally renowned management analysts describes a business system for the twenty-first century.

Expanded, updated, and more relevant than ever, this bestselling business classic by two internationally renowned management analysts describes a business system for the twenty-first century that supersedes the mass production system of Ford, the financial control system of Sloan, and the strategic system of Welch and GE. It is based on the Toyota (lean) model, which combines operational excellence with value-based strategies to produce steady growth through a wide range of economic conditions.

In contrast with the crash-and-burn performance of companies trumpeted by business gurus in the 1990s, the firms profiled in Lean Thinking -- from tiny Lantech to midsized Wiremold to niche producer Porsche to gigantic Pratt & Whitney -- have kept on keeping on, largely unnoticed, along a steady upward path through the market turbulence and crushed dreams of the early twenty-first century. Meanwhile, the leader in lean thinking -- Toyota -- has set its sights on leadership of the global motor vehicle industry in this decade.

Instead of constantly reinventing business models, lean thinkers go back to basics by asking what the customer really perceives as value. (It's often not at all what existing organizations and assets would suggest.) 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 Lean Thinking.

Lean Thinking does not provide a new management "program" for the one-minute manager. Instead, it offers a new method of thinking, of being, and, above all, of doing for the serious long-term manager -- a method that is changing the world.©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. Career Success Decision-Making & Problem Solving Diets, Nutrition & Healthy Eating Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Forecasting & Strategic Planning Management Management & Leadership Weight Loss & Weight Control
Valuable Business Principles • Practical Application Examples • Believable Tone • Timeless Wisdom • Rich Lean Concepts

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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.

Good Lesson, Hard to connect to service business

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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.

like the author, but not this book.

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I have the physical book too. This audio book does not have all the chapters.

missing content

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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.

Excellent Summary of Lean

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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.

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

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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.

Absolute addition to any rain practitioners personal library

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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.

A must for any business.

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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 eye opening must-read for Lean enthusiasts

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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.

An OK book.

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

Lean Thinking

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