Going Lean: How the Best Companies Apply Lean Manufacturing Principles to Shatter Uncertainty, Drive Innovation, and Maximize Profits

Going Lean sets aside the notion that efficient operations and powerful innovations are only possible when business is steady and demand is growing. Instead, companies must learn that sudden shifts or unpredictable conditions need not undermine their results. Led by a new breed of companies Toyota, Wal-Mart, and Southwest Airlinesa powerful, yet unexpected mindset is reshaping the rules for business competitiveness. By using Lean Dynamics based on the now-famous Toyota Production Systemcompanies everywhere can thrive in virtually any environment. In Going Lean, readers will learn how to: become broadly effective in creating and sustaining value set a critical foundation for achieving sustained excellence identify sources of lag and create robust value streams that thrive in todays dynamic conditions describe the underlying techniques to maintain steady and predictable flow create a system based on pull, or external demand that consistently introduces new innovation even during severe downturns strive for perfection deliver industry-leading returns