The Perfect Engine: How to Win in the New Demand Economy by Building to Order with Fewer Resources

Rating:
Summary: "Perfection" Is a Journey....
Review: Don't be deterred by the title. (Initially, I was.) It was probably selected for marketing purposes. Sharma and Moody know better than to claim that the system they propose (what they call "LeanSigma Transformation Process") is in all ways -- and will remain forever -- a "perfect engine" by which to achieve "profitable growth that serves all the constituents of an enterprise." Any system is only as effective as those involved within it. We all know how many perfect workers there are. What Sharma and Moody present in this volume is a cohesive, comprehensive, and cost-effective system by which to meet all manner of challenges by "building to order with fewer resources." Presumably they would be the first to point out that any such system, presented in a book, must be modified to accommodate the specific needs, interest, objectives, and resources of a given organization. Moreover, although the primary focus is on manufacturing, the principles are so sound that they can also be of substantial value to non-manufacturing enterprises such as those in retail merchandising, management consulting, banking, accounting, legal, insurance, and even advertising. All organizations need to improve cycle time and first-pass yield. Also, all organizations must do that with finite (sometimes severely limited) resources. Finally, all organizations most become (literally) obsessed with kaizen: constant improvement. Therefore, I highly recommend this book to decision-makers in all organizations (regardless of size or nature) but with the single caveat that appropriate modifications of the LeanSigma Transformation Process first be made.

Sharma and Moody carefully organize their excellent material within ten chapters. In the first, they suggest and then explain "A Better Way"; in the last, they shift their attention to "The Future." Throughout their book, they make effective use of the "journey" metaphor, correctly asserting that, once begun, the LeanSigma Transformation Process never ends. "This is a journey that concentrates the energy of an entire enterprise and focuses efforts to serve customers better, faster, with better quality products and responsiveness, ultimately leading to gains in market share." Several dozen mini-case studies (e.g. Maytag) demonstrate precisely HOW such objectives can be achieved. In the final chapter, Sharma and Moody offer these thoughts: "Keep the long-term perspective. This journey is part of a larger movement, just as kaizen breakthrough is the the enabler of LeanSigma Transformation, and Design for LeanSigma revolutionized process and product design for increased responsiveness and mass customization. [The current business circumstances worldwide] create a long-awaited window of opportunity, and it is our responsibility to be prepared, to have the best workers, the best tools, and the energetic leadership required because an opportunity like this comes only once in every hundred and fifty years."

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out David Maister's Practice What You Preach, Michael Hammer's The Agenda, Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan's Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, and James O'Toole's Leading Change.

Rating:
Summary: Makes the case for Lean, find the details elsewhere
Review: I have been involved in a lean transformation for 5 years and 6 sigma for 3 years. I'm a trained kaizen facilitator and 6 sigma black belt, just background for my review.

Having read the book, I found it is a sound introductory read for those looking to understand how lean and 6 sigma can transform a business. The target audience for this is managers and executive contemplating initiating this process.

The authors do a great job of providing war stories of successes within thier client base. They present the basics of the tools involved. They explain what is expected of management to make an implementation successful.

If you are loooking for the details on how to get it done, I'd go to other books (anything by Shingo, or go to Productivity Press). As with many consultant books, this has the feel of a marketing tool to promote their consultancy. TBM is regarded and one of the best if not the best in "Lean" in this country.

Things that Anand pointed out, but some one with little experience may not pick up on are:
*Continuous improvement is a journey and not a destination
*Senior management MUST be directly involved for success
*Use the gains to grow the business
*Standard work IS the discipline in the process
*Everything must be looked at from the customer's perspective

These may not be new or exciting, but very true and often difficult maintain. I liked the book. I did not get out of it what I expected (more detail and insight), but I learned a few things. I can recommend the book as a starter book for some one to gain an insight on what it takes and at a high level how it works.

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Summary: Language Spanish
Review: My company where i am working wants to buy this book for all the managers, but i would like to know if you have available this book in spanish? I hope you can give me an answer asap... Many thanks!

Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Engine is the perfect solution!
Review: This book contains clear and practical guidance that anyone can use to turn a company around. After applying examples from the book to our factory we increased productivity and lowered inventory within weeks! LeanSigma is the new road to manufacturing success.

Taking the best from lean and Six Sigma methodologies to create LeanSigma is a brilliant idea. The Perfect Engine gives innovative examples that are easy to apply to any environment and quickly transform an organization into a more responsive and agile enterprise.

This book is a must read for line managers and other supply chain managers who want to stay competitive in today's market.

Rating:
Summary: The Perfect Engine is the perfect solution!
Review: This book contains clear and practical guidance that anyone can use to turn a company around. After applying examples from the book to our factory we increased productivity and lowered inventory within weeks! LeanSigma is the new road to manufacturing success.

Taking the best from lean and Six Sigma methodologies to create LeanSigma is a brilliant idea. The Perfect Engine gives innovative examples that are easy to apply to any environment and quickly transform an organization into a more responsive and agile enterprise.

This book is a must read for line managers and other supply chain managers who want to stay competitive in today's market.

Rating:
Summary: Strong Case for Lean
Review: This is a very strong case for lean. There are plenty of old economy examples to provide real world validation, as opposed to all of the high tech fluff books that are out there. I recommend this to anyone in manufacturing or services as a bible to reinvent your company's operating strategy.