Product Description

Lean Supply Chain Management A Handbook for Strategic Procurement Jeffrey P. Wincel

Lean Supply Chain Management provides procurement and supplier development professionals with a powerful and profitable method for strategic procurement.

Unlike other strategic procurement guides, Lean Supply Chain Management considers an organization's "business condition" as a contributing factor in the development of a strategic procurement strategy. That is, rather than taking a "one-size fits all" approach, the authors' more individualized approach illustrates techniques specific to organizations operating in a "standard" environment or "crisis" environment. In addition, Lean Supply Chain Management is the only book that incorporates lean methodologies as the key factor in its supply chain strategies.

Highlights include:
· Methods for developing and tracking strategic procurement initiatives
· Planning in the "standard" and "crisis" environment
· Coordinating supply chain management and lean manufacturing
· Performance measurement tools

Lean Supply Chain Management provides purchasers and supplier development professionals with the tools needed to transform procurement from a mere cost center to a profit generator.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #498518 in Books
• Published on: 2003-12-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review

This book addresses one of my main frustrations with the supply chain business -- it treats supplier management as a technical logistics issue. Jeffrey Wincel, through his extensive experience in doing it right at Donnelly Mirrors, shows us how lean supply chain management is much more than that. It is about relationships. It is a blending of cultures. It is having a lean plant providing seamless, just-in-time delivery of quality parts to another lean plant. Lean supply chain management is a core competency of Toyota and if you are serious about developing this competency I recommend that you read this book.

Beyond reading about the supply chain approach from a successful company, the best learning advantage would be to supply companies like Toyota and traditional (automotive) companies. This gives an individual leader and teams the advantage of seeing and comparing two methods, traditional versus lean, side by side. This side-by-side comparison lets us see what works and what does not work in the U.S. manufacturing environment. This is exactly the comparison that Jeff Wincel brings to the table in his book, Lean Supply Chain Management.

Jeffrey K. Liker, Ph.D., University of Michigan, Editor, Becoming Lean 06/01/04

Russ Scaffede, VP, Manufacturing, Tiara Yachts, Holland, Michigan 06/01/04

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Customer Reviews

A Practical Guide to Collaborative Supply Chain Success!
With a `no holds barred' approach to a complex topic, Jeffrey `tells it like it is' in his first book, Lean Supply Chain Management: A Handbook For Strategic Procurement. Based upon his career as a procurement executive, he shares his thoughts and strategies in this insightful book combining theory and practical tools in an easy-to-read format. The case study interspersed throughout the book provides the real world, `tools-in-action' perspective.

With 60% to 70% of the cost of a company's manufactured product now residing within the value chain of suppliers (i.e., bought out), he champions the creation of a Chief Procurement Officer to underscore the vital contribution that purchasing makes to corporate profits.

His book's underlying theme is the collaborative approach to supply chain management - working with the suppliers to improve designs and processes, optimize costs and reduce lead times while surprising and delighting the customer. Encouraging companies to put away the big sticks when they deal with their suppliers, he provides solid advice for supply chain management in standard as well as crisis environments. He demonstrates how sound principles of lean theory and action can be coordinated with enlightened supply chain management practices to add value to bottom-line profits.

This book puts the strategic focus back into the purchasing function. I highly recommend this book.

A Practical Step-by-Step Approach to a Lean Supply Chain
This books provides an excellent detailed road map for taking Lean concepts to the supply chain. Many of the publications I've read summarize the success companies have had in implementing Lean concepts. This book goes well beyond that, outlining HOW to take Lean to the supply chain. The book includes a 5 phase process with step-by-step instructions for each phase.

The real "jewel" in the book is the authors discussion of companies in a "crisis environment" versus companies in a "normal environment". Lean initiatives are often initiated as a result of a company finding itself in a "crisis". These initiatives fail because Lean practictioners are unable to recognize the need, or are unable to deliver, the quick results needed in a time of crisis.

This book is a "must have" for anyone wanting to take Lean concepts to their supply chain.

Using the book
After reading Lean Supply Chain Management, we began adopting the practices in our operations in the U.S. and in England. We immediately saw improvements that we expected would take months to achieve. Without a doubt, we will continue to implement the improvements Mr. Wincel writes about in his book.