Leading the Lean Enterprise Transformation

by George Koenigsaecker, Hamdy Taha

Updated with new information, illustrations, and leadership tools, Leading the Lean Enterprise Transformation, Second Edition describes how the metrics used by Toyota drive every line item in a financial statement in the right direction. Rather than focus on Lean tools and principles, the new edition of this bestselling reference focuses on what may be the least understood and most critical aspect of a Lean transformation: the building of a Lean culture. In addition to new appendices with background information and insightful stories on Lean leadership and implementation, it includes new information on tactical organization practices, strategy deployment, and Lean culture. An inductee to IndustryWeek's Hall of Fame, George Koenigsaecker illustrates successful strategies and valuable lessons learned with case histories of U.S. leaders who have been instrumental in bringing Lean to the forefront. He explains the use of value stream analysis at the leadership level and describes how to structure kaizen events that can improve the value stream. Organized in the chronological sequence that a leader embarking on a Lean journey would experience, the book discusses the methods used by the author during the Hon Company’s successful Lean conversion, which doubled productivity, tripled revenues, and led IndustryWeek to recognize Hon as one of the "World’s 100 Best Managed Firms." The book not only introduces powerful leadership tools―including strategy deployment, transformation value stream analysis, and transformation plan of care―but also arms potential change agents with the soft skills needed to define, develop, and communicate their vision. Detailing the steps required to sustain improvements, it supplies time-tested guidance for effective leadership throughout a Lean transformation in any organization.

Genres: Leadership, Business, Nonfiction, Management

264 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Mike Thelen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like reading my own experiences with my mentor and the organization where my learning really catapulted, literally. No need to write my own book, just reference this!

[Mark Havenhand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally read it properly in 2024 and its good if you have some experience and the benefit of hindsight. All those week-long kaizen events! Even Toyota stumbled. The illustrations in the book are really lousy - George thats muda! Overall good for those planning or leading a lean transformation more than the details of using the tools. I enjoyed it - good managerial insights

[Sara Palmerchuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.2/5 I didn’t really find anything revolutionary. The appendix of tools on the other hand is great and I will definitely refer back to it in the future.

[Chet Brandon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an unusual approach to discussing lean. The author has much experience implementing a leading lean organizations. This book focuses on leadership strategies of such organizations. It covers the basics of lean in summary detail. You must already be well versed in lean to really get the innovative piece of this approach, which is the tools and techniques of leading the lean efforts in a manufacturing organization.

[u571 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The former part of the book is fascinating. However, some of the concepts were not well illustrated, for example Standard Work. Overall, it is a good book for a leader who wants to start his or her lean journey. Some of the other books must be read to compensate for the shortcoming of this book.

[Tod Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the practical approach and specific examples/guidelines as opposed to some of the more general lean books.

[Justin Tomac · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone leading any type of transformation, highly beneficial.

[David M Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written for the executive who is pursuing a lean transformation for his/her organization.