Page 10 - How To Implement Lean Manufacturing

Preface

Why I Am Writing This Book
I am writing this book for several reasons.
First, I have been asked to. On numerous occasions, clients have asked me to write
a book. The first time was on the subject of measurement system analysis (MSA); the
second on statistical process control (SPC); the third time on statistical problem
solving—and in the past five years I have been asked on no less than three occasions to
condense my thoughts on Lean Manufacturing into book form. Writing a book is also
something I have wanted to do, but just never had the time to do so. However, in the
end, it was other reasons (which I later list in this chapter) that drove me to the effort.
Second, I am very tired of seeing managers
everywhere looking for this “silver bullet” called Lean
Manufacturing. They see it as a catch-all for attacking “In the choice between
all their business woes—including poor profitability
changing one’s mind and prov-
and low levels of competitiveness—and transforming ing there’s no reason to do so,
their business into the pinnacle of profitability. I want
most people get busy on the
to stand up and yell at the top of my lungs and make
it very clear that there is no silver bullet. In this regard, proof. ”
I now offer up three quotes here. John Kenneth Galbraith
Third, as a consultant I frequently find myself
quite frustrated in being unable to sell Lean
Manufacturing to a facility that desperately needs it. “Men stumble over the
Maybe this book can put my thoughts into a clear truth from time to time, but
and convincing format that I am unable to otherwise most pick themselves up and
convey. hurry off as if nothing hap-
Perhaps I get particularly frustrated because I pened.
embody a tough combination of characteristics. For ” Sir Winston Churchill
instance, I am reasonably talented in what I do, which
sadly helps me less than you would think when it
comes to selling the concept of Lean Manufacturing.
“Opportunity is missed
In addition, I am burdened with a high degree of
frankness. And finally, I am one of the world’s worst by most people because it is
salesmen. I laughingly tell people I could not sell free dressed in overalls and looks
water to millionaires dying of thirst in the desert. like work. ”
Maybe I’m not that bad—but when it comes to selling Thomas Edison
things, both physical and ideological, I have a lot of

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