Lean Manufacturing Plant Floor Guide Book Review

Several years ago, I bought Lean Manufacturing: A Plant Floor Guide. Since that time, I’ve found myself turning back to the book for help, guidance, and general information as I help individuals and organizations achieve a higher level of performance through the implementation of Lean Thinking.

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Here’s the product description found on Amazon:

Written by the prominent consulting firm, Total Systems Development, Inc. (TSD), Lean Manufacturing: A Plant Floor Guide is a complete inventory of the elements needed for successful implementation. It provides an overview and a specific rationale for your initiative. It is an easy-to-digest reference to aspects of lean that you may not have known about. It’s a virtual toolbox of information that can be readily put to use on the plant floor.

Internationally renowned editors John Allen, Charles Robinson, and David Stewart take readers on a comprehensive, ‘street-level’ journey through lean implementation, from the seven wastes and flow processes to developing a business case, using lean tools, and applying readers’ newfound knowledge at greenfield and brownfield sites. Specific chapters on mapping the value stream, policy deployment, the five-phase implementation process, and problem-solving crystallize concepts with a pragmatic treatment. In addition, the brownfield implementation chapter is a must.

Here are the Chapters Sections:

1. Flow
2. Quality Feedback
3. Lean Measurements and Their Use
4. Mapping the Value Stream
5. Business Case Development
6. Change Management and Lean Implementation
7. The Five Phase Implementation Process
8. Creating a Lean Human Resource System
9. Policy Deployment
10. Work Groups
11. Visual Factory
12. Error Proofing
13. Standardized Work
14. Quick Changeover
15. Total Productive Maintenance
16. Problem Solving
17. Pull Systems
18. Lean Applications

All in all, I recommend this book as a great reference guide.