The Progressive Machine: Before We Called It Lean

by Stephen Weller

The story of innovation isn't always told in novels. Sometimes it evolves from ingenuity, curiosity, and sheer will. That is the story of Lean--before we called it "Lean." The Progressive Machin e is Stephen Weller's definitive primer on how a very important concept in production and service excellence came into being. Like the philosophy itself, the ideas neither start nor end here, helping to develop a leadership mindset that not only continuously improves, but also continues to grow. That is the heart of Lean. By always looking for better ways to think and do things, we are always changing the world, one step at a time. This book is less about the concepts and more about the people who brought them to life. These innovators saw opportunities to increase the value of the work around them. In doing so, they each laid the foundation for what is now considered an integral part of how to operate.

170 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2021

Reviews

[Ian Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen gives us a quick history lesson of systems and processes of efficiency prior to it being called Lean. I found this book an easy read but also a refreshing take on the industrial practices that streamlined efficiency in the industry today. He taps into Training with Industry, The Principles of Scientific Management, Just in Time, produce only what is needed, and so on—capitalizing on the expertise of Eli Whitney, Henry Ford to Taiichi Ohno. I think this is a must-read for anyone that wants to build efficiency in their workforce. I highly recommend this book. It probably should be required reading for lower-level management up to the CEO level.