The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership

By: Jeffrey Liker, Gary L. Convis

Narrated by: Jim Meskimen

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's Summary

The missing link to long-term Lean success! Despite the fact that companies worldwide have adopted Lean production, none has sustained the same levels of excellence as Toyota. Why? Leadership. In The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership, Jeffrey Liker and Gary L. Convis, a former executive V.P. and managing officer of Toyota, help executives and senior managers get employees to refocus their efforts - from simply performing their singular function to continuously improving in collaboration across the organization.

Case studies from Toyota clearly illustrate the methods that create powerful, effective Lean leadership. Jeffrey Liker, author of the popular Toyota Way books, is the acknowledged expert on Toyota processes. He is professor of Industrial and Operations Engineering at the University of Michigan. After his executive leadership at Toyota, Gary L. Convis became the CEO of Dana Holding Corporation, a $6.1 billion supplier to the global automotive, commercial vehicle, and off-highway markets, and helped lead it to a successful turnaround from bankruptcy.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2011 Jeffrey Liker, Gary L. Convis (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Disappointing. Here is a summary

I have just got to chapter 7 (out of 10) and can't take it anymore. Quitting.
Here is what I have learned so far:
- Toyota is the best. Even when it fails, it's still the best.
- Nobody really understands the Toyota Way (Toyota Production System or TPS)
- TPS is hard and takes a long time to figure out.
- Even if somebody figured it out, it would still not work for them, because it's very individual. Even what works at one Toyota factory, it won't work at another. And you actually need to figure it out on your own.
- There are no shortcuts in TPS. It takes a long time. Toyota has figured it out and it works for Toyota, but you probably won't understand anyway.

THAT'S IT. No details. No practical tips. Just self-accolades and cryptic messages. Soft of philosophy, but no practice whatsoever. So far, I have not learned anything. No practical insight. Only constant repetition that Toyota is great and it does something very deep and meaningful, but no explanation what it is and how it works.

Maybe there will be more substance in the remaining three chapters, but I can't take it anymore.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

It Isn't What You Migh Think

Everyone is familiar with Toyota as a brand. Some are aware of the Toyota manufacturing process. Being aware of the process is not being familiar and being familiar does not imply one is conversant with how it really works. Along comes Jeffrey Liker (The Toyota Way) and Gary Convis with The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership filling any gaps in our understanding. Importantly, Liker and Convis use a narrative approach to presenting their material. They use multiple examples and anecdotes to illustrate the concepts they are reporting. Their use of vignettes to describe how lead leadership works, certainly nourishes the reader’s understanding. Readers interested in manufacturing, Japanese culture, leadership, adult education, and other related topics will find this volume most informative. There is no need to be an engineer, Liker and Convis make the topic readily available to the general reader. The narration of Jim Meskimen is very good.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

how to turn around and become better

If you could sum up The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership in three words, what would they be?

Think simple, think in the customer and how they use your product.

What did you like best about this story?

the way Toyota saw a problem and how they use that to change or innovate their way of thinking

What does Jim Meskimen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jim brings the right tone of importance and motivation to the book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

transforming the present, developing a better future

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not Much Here

Has The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership turned you off from other books in this genre?

First quarter of the book they explain what they are going to do and then never really ever get to it.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

Good listen

This is Toyota's story from one insider. So it is a singular point of view. But a very detailed point of view.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

ONLY leaders should read, bean counters shouldn't

Good book on the origins of Lean Methodology and the Toyota system. Too bad most who practice Lean, Six Sigma, etc do not take in the whole education; as Americans we seem to short cut everything. Due to these short cuts, we have a lot of businesses that after recent economic circumstances are finding themselves at a point where they may not survive as a company. The recession was only the catalyst; shortsighted leadership was the true cause as most companies raced to the bottom in cutting costs to the point I fear a large number will not be able to recover. A tool is only as good as the craftsman that wields it. Needless to say Lean Leadership is all about leadership and has nothing to do with cutting costs. I would have recommended this book, but it is like handing a loaded handgun to a toddler."

14 of 21 people found this review helpful

Great context for how & why Toyota is different

A little self serving and defensive but Toyota has a lot to be proud of and they did get tossed to the political wolves during the recalls.

lots of great examples of creating excellence in corporate culture and contrasts with 'just good enough' culture.

I look forward to listening to this again!

I've always been interested in kaizen and intended to read "The Machine that Changed the World" but havn't had the opportunity. This book came up as one of the Audible 2 for 1 deals and I jumped on the chance. Over all I've been very happy. Even when talking about the mundane parts of management I was engaged and enjoyed it. I really recommend this for anyone that is interested in business, business history, management or just enjoys a well put together book.

Interesting

I found this interesting and enlightening. It got down to the specifics of what makes the Toyota system work

Love it

TPS goes deep and the authors flesh it out as much as practical in one volume. Recommend read for leaders especially manufacturing leaders.

Very general content

What would have made The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership better?

This book is riding on the success of Toyota and the Lean Leadership but it does not offer many practical and actionable insights or advices if that is what you are looking for.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

interesting

quite comprehensive...if one wants to learn how Toyota works.
Also interesting to see how things are supposed to be and how they actually are in most of the other organisations.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Great book, but...

... The Lean Start up is a better version of this one. Less story & more useful content

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Truly Inspirational!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely! This is a must read book for anyone in any managerial position and/or anyone who wants to understand how business is run efficiently and why it is important to spend 'quality time' on the floor with the employees.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The founder of Toyota -

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The whole book was very interesting and it was full of insightful information from the very beginning to the end. Listened to it twice in a row!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

n/a

Any additional comments?

Brilliant book full of brilliant ideas!

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great book for any Lean Enthusiast

I loved this book.Cleared a number of doubts in my mind.I will buy a hard copy as well.

same after same... boring...

same after same we know we need develop our self..but once to listen is good still amazing idea

Applies to all types of work

Don't pigeon hole this just for manufacturing. The principles apply to knowledge work as well as manual work.

Not for me, wanted it to finish after chapter 3

Maybe it's just not very related to mi business, I understand it should be relatable to all business but I struggled.

Practical; Helpful; Inspiration

Great book with some excellent examples and insights into the Toyota way - brilliantly narrated as well

Read and apply it all.

I have really enjoyed reading this book. it is simple to read and apply all the tips given in the book with ease...