Product Description

2006 SHINGO PRIZE for EXCELLENCE in MANUFACTURING RESEARCH

Lean Production Simplified is a plain language guide to the lean production system written for the practitioner by a practitioner. It delivers a comprehensive "insider's" view of lean manufacturing. The author helps the reader to grasp the system as a whole and the factors that animate it by organizing the book around an image of a "house of lean production."

Highlights include:

• An comprehensive view of Toyota's lean manufacturing system
• A look at the origins and underlying principles of lean
• Identifying the goals of lean production
• Practical problem solving for lean production
• Activities that support involvement - Kaizen circles, suggestion systems, and problem solving

  Lean Production Simplified covers each of the components of lean within the context of the entire lean production system. The author's straightforward common sense approach makes this book an easily accessible "onthe floor" resource for every operator.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #204834 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review

Lean Production Simplified is both enlightening and informative for all levels of lean learners. It is written from a very human perspective. Many prior publications focus on the lean bag of tools or the softer cultural aspects of lean. Dennis' contribution is a well integrated blend of both giving the reader not only a systemic understanding of lean, but also the clear skill development required for leadership at all levels. Wherever you are on your journey to lean, Lean Production Simplified will provide further knowledge and insight to help achieve the next level on the eternal path to perfection.

This book is just too important! In this age of global competition threatening to annihilate all but the very leanest, Pascal Dennis' masterwork, Lean Production Simplified — A Plain-Language Guide to the World's Most Powerful Production System, is a must-read. Midway through my career, after working at five, large North American manufacturing companies, it's absolutely crystal clear that the three which died would have survived if only they'd known of and successfully implemented The Toyota Production System. Dennis is clearly North America's Ohno-san!

Anne Stevens, VP, North America Vehicle Operations, Ford Motor Company 06/01/04

Michael A.J. Davis, Executive VP, Waterville TG Inc. 06/01/04

From the Publisher
IN STOCK!

About the Author
Pascal Dennis is a professional engineer, author, and educator with 20 years experience in manufacturing, public service and consulting engineering. He developed his lean thinking skills on the shop floor of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC), and by working with lean masters in Japan and North America. In his leadership position at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada he supported various model launches, the construction of a new facility, and the hiring of new team members. Under his leadership Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada has received the JD Power Gold Medal for quality and he received the OSH Award of Excellence for Professional Achievement.

Customer Reviews

Best Lean Book for Breadth of Knowledge
I've read many of the more popular lean books (see our other reviews), and have been doing lean full-time since 2000. In my view this book has the best, most complete field of view of them all, touching on several concepts that get no attention in any other lean overview text. It should be noted that as far a depth goes however, the name says it all... Lean Production Simplified.

Pro:
-Shingo prize winner
-Brief yet complete coverage of lean topics
-Coverage of several topics not found elsewhere, including the much ignored hoshin kanri
-Decent chapter summaries, ample examples and figures

Con:
-I guess about the worst you can say is there's too many misspellings for a 2nd edition.
-Perhaps too many sentences that start with, "At Toyota" which create some repetitive reading.

Bottom line: Highly recommended for exposure to the basics.

Good Overview
I thought this book did a good job in giving you an overview of the lean tools. It is a good reference point if you would like to further study lean activities.

A great practical guide
Lean Production Simplified provides a great practical guide to the implementation of lean principles. The author gives enough history and background of lean production to put the concepts into context. He then covers all the basic concepts with a unified approach. We are using this book to orient several new team members to the concepts as we implement important lean projects.