Rating: 
Summary: A must read for companies thinking of lean implementation.
Review: "Becoming Lean" delivers the promise of its title by docmenting case studies of successful lean implementations in diverse industries. The step-by-step accounts of the implementors (CEOs, Presidents, and consultants) identify successful strategies and execution, as well as problems encountered during the implementations. Having worked in manufacturing for 29 years, I'm ecstatic that American companies are now understanding that we engineer and manufacture products in a global market. The only way to ensure long term survival is to deliver the highest quality at an affordable price (and cost) , precisely when the customer wants it! Lean Manufacturing is the only way to achieve ALL of these fundamental requirements. "Becoming Lean" provides the tools to get your company either started, or back on track, on the road to Lean success.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for companies thinking of lean implementation.
Review: "Becoming Lean" delivers the promise of its title by documenting case studies of successful lean implementations in diverse industries. The step-by-step accounts of the implementors (CEOs, Presidents, and consultants) identify successful strategies and execution, as well as problems encountered during the implementations. Having worked in manufacturing for 29 years, I'm ecstatic that American companies are now understanding that we engineer and manufacture products in a global market. The only way to ensure long term survival is to deliver the highest quality at an affordable price (and cost), precisely when the customer wants it! Lean Manufacturing is the only way to achieve ALL of these fundamental requirements. "Becoming Lean" provides the tools to get your company either started, or back on track, on the road to Lean success.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Practitioners: A How to/How Not to Book!
Review: Becoming Lean is a fantastic book written by respectable individuals with documented "LEAN" experience. Particulaty valuable is the realistic picture depicted by those who have and still are implementing many of the concepts pioneered by Toyota. A high recommendation for anyone in any business.
Rating: 
Summary: PRACTICAL
Review: BECOMING LEAN
Probably one of the better "lean" production books, because most books will tell you what lean production is. We have all heard the buzzwords, kaizen, quality circles, empowerment, kanban, benchmarking. but one is still left with their peculiar situation. There is always the thought that this particular company or industry is does not lend itself to lean production and is the exception to the rule. "Becoming Lean" is the account of some diverse companies on the road to lean production. The attempt of make each company fit a certain production model and achieve its goal. I recommend this book for teaching by example, instead of dealing with just theory.
Rating:
Summary: PRACTICAL
Review: BECOMING LEAN
Probably one of the better "lean" production books, because most books will tell you what lean production is. We have all heard the buzzwords, kaizen, quality circles, empowerment, kanban, benchmarking. but one is still left with their peculiar situation. There is always the thought that this particular company or industry is does not lend itself to lean production and is the exception to the rule. "Becoming Lean" is the account of some diverse companies on the road to lean production. The attempt of make each company fit a certain production model and achieve its goal. I recommend this book for teaching by example, instead of dealing with just theory.
Rating:
Summary: PRACTICAL
Review: BECOMING LEAN
Probably one of the better "lean" production books, because most books will tell you what lean production is. We have all heard the buzzwords, kaizen, quality circles, empowerment, kanban, benchmarking. but one is still left with their peculiar situation. There is always the thought that this particular company or industry is does not lend itself to lean production and is the exception to the rule. "Becoming Lean" is the account of some diverse companies on the road to lean production. The attempt of make each company fit a certain production model and achieve its goal. I recommend this book for teaching by example, instead of dealing with just theory.
Rating: 
Summary: This book brings you stories from the front-line.
Review: I decided to do an edited book after hearing some exciting stories of transformation from people who had been there. Lean manufacturing is something you need to experience to truly understand and these folks had been through it, the ups and downs, and not only lived to tell but triumphed. They had made a significant transformation of a plant with outstanding results. They had seen that they did not have to live with waste but could radically reduce it in a way they never thought possible. As a result they were changed forever. This does not mean their entire companies were transformed--there is more to a company than operational excellence in one or two plants--but the manufacturing plant was a completely different and better place. I hope you enjoy this collection as much as I enjoyed putting it together! There are exciting stories here (and many more being created every day).
Rating:
Summary: A very good book for those involved in implementing Lean.
Review: I found this book very interesting and extremely practical. The chapters containing stories of Manufacturing companies currently implementing Lean are especially useful. Each contains a multitude of clear diagrams, worksheets, and examples of exactly what they have done. In addition, each company seems to have honestly commented on what works and what doesn't. If you are involved in implementing Lean Manufacturing in your plant, this is a must read.
Rating: 
Summary: LEAN?
Review: If this book is filled with insights from experts in lean manufacturing, then why did the 4/27/98 issue of Fortune report a $63M loss with profits down 150% on their client company (Western Atlas). If that's what it means to become lean, I'll pass. If I'm looking for guidance on lean manufacturing, I'll go look at some Kaizen books. I'm not impressed.........
Rating:
Summary: A Data Bound Argument for Lean
Review: This book covers a number of great insights into the journey to leanness. It has the unique angle of having its case studies written by the people from the companies profiled in the studies. This gives a first hand review of the accomplishments and roadblocks that are part of becoming lean by those that went through them. Becoming Lean also gives accounts from people with personal experience from working for Toyota while they transplanted to North America to how the Japanese school system compares to and contrasts from the American school systems. In general, this book gives an excellent understanding that only a first-hand account can do. If you want to learn what it means to become lean this book is a must and should be used as a reference book while going through the lean transformation!
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