Beyond Lean: Elements of a Successful Implementation (Industrial Innovation)

If an industry doesn't stay competitive, it is dead in the water. Continuous improvement methods such as lean help to minimize waste and enhance quality, but their success is dependent upon an in-depth understanding and successful implementation of the method. Drawing on the author's experience in the field, this book explores a system view that embraces all aspects of the organization. It discusses the importance of planning for lean using a multifactor approach that considers technical, people, environmental, accounting, quality, reliability, and variation aspects. The text identifies key issues that cause lean to fail and provides alternative approaches to avoid these issues. The value stream mapping tool is modified to introduce variation.