Mr. Lean Buys and Transforms a Manufacturing Company

by Greg Lane

This is the true story of how, armed with only Lean improvement methodologies, a specially trained Toyota Lean expert purchased a business he knew nothing about, applied Lean techniques, and succeeded in doubling sales and increasing profitability, before he finally sold the thriving business.With humility and humor, the author recounts his successes and failures, introduces his key employees and their struggles with change, and provides motivation and simple ideas for all readers looking to improve their businesses. He captures key points highlighted in text boxes and includes illustrative photos and examples of Lean tools at work.This story dispels the fallacy that Lean management does not achieve excellent results in high variation companies and job shops. Toyota s OSKKK methodology is introduced to understand processes and guide a Lean transformation on the shop floor and in the office.

Unknown Binding

First published December 1, 2009

Reviews

[Alejandro Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very compelling to me, as an agile coach and as a former business owner.
As Lane mentions in the preface every consultant has day dreamed of doing things "the right way"
and every business owner has thought "if it is so easy why don't you do it yourself".

The fact that he tried to use the TPS/Lean techniques in a workshop is also very interesting, because literature on those topics is almost directed at "big" companies.

[Sonia Majan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very pragmatic and practical. A true story allows holds more value as you learn from other's mistakes. I read this book with a highlighter and notepad and had many improvement ideas for my organization that I believe have never before been published.
I highly recommend it and ensure any job shops, high mix or low volume organizations that struggle to make lean improvements will come away with quite a few ideas.