"Real Lean," Volumes 1 and 2

I've had the opportunity to read Bob Emiliani's two collections of essays on "Real Lean" and I'm long overdue on posting about them. I'm especially late considering since Volume Three is coming out in June. These books are particularly recommended for those who already have a basic Lean education and some experience (or struggles) with implementing Lean.

Real Lean: Understanding the Lean Management System (Volume One)

In this book, Emiliani introduces the "Real Lean" concept, by which he means the real approach that focuses on both pillars of the Toyota Way:

1. Continuous Improvement
2. Respect for People

As Emiliani points out, far too many only focus on the first part -- the tools, improvement, and methods, without focusing on people. When people are implementing Lean with just a short-term focus -- focusing only on numbers or (even worse) slashing headcount, he calls this "Fake Lean." It's pretty similar to my "Lean vs LAME" construct.

Here is Bob's page about the book, with the list of essays and reader reviews.

Real Lean: Critical Issues and Opportunities in Lean Management (Volume Two)

This second volume covers more issues for those who are deep into their Lean journey. For example, chapter 6 is called "We're Beyond That." This is pretty common when a company is a few years into their Lean journey. A company has had success or maybe the executives are bored (or have moved on) and it's time to move "beyond Lean" (if I only had a dollar for each article or webinar that promised what's next "beyond Lean."). Bob emphasizes that Real Lean is a constant mindset and a constant way of managing a business.

Here's Bob's page on Volume Two.

Check out the "Emiliani" link below for discussion about his earlier books and his podcast episodes that we did together.

I'm going to spend some time re-reading some of these essays over the weekend and I might comment more on the ones that were most useful to me in my current Lean efforts. Definitely recommended reading.

Subscribe via RSS | Lean Blog Main Page | Podcast | Message Board

LeanBlog Podcast #38 - Bob Emiliani, "Practical Lean Leadership"

Here is LeanBlog Podcast #38, our guest today is Bob Emiliani of the Center for Lean Business Management and, most recently, the author of Practical Lean Leadership: A Strategic Leadership Guide For Executives. It's a workbook-style guide that forces you to think through your own leadership approach and your own situation, a book I enjoyed very much. In this podcast, we talk about "lean leadership," "value added behaviors," and some pitfalls to avoid in lean implementations.

For earlier episodes, visit the main Podcast page, which includes information on how to subscribe via RSS or via Apple iTunes.

You can use the player (use the VCR-type controls) below to listen to a "streaming" version of the podcast (or click here for the streaming audio and RSS subscription). The streaming link is faster for one-time listening (hardly any delay to start listening). Or you can use the download link to put it on your iPod or other MP3 player.

MP3 File Right-Click to "Save As"

LeanBlog Podcast #38 Key Points & Key Words

How Bob first got involved with Lean and, especially, the leadership component.

What's different about this new Lean book?

What are some examples of "non-value-added" management activities or behaviors?

A definition of kaizen that emphasizes that kaizen cannot be sub-optimizing, you must look at the whole

Some errors to avoid in Lean implementation, avoiding "fake Lean"

If you have feedback on the podcast, or any questions for me or my guests, you can email me at leanpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave a voicemail by calling the "Lean Line" at (817) 776-LEAN (817-776-5326) or contact me via Skype id "mgraban". Please give your location and your first name. Any comments (email or voicemail) might be used in follow ups to the podcast.

Subscribe via RSS Lean Blog Main Page Podcast Message Board

More from Emiliani and Upcoming Podcast

Superfactory - Article: The Equally Important "Respect for People" Principle by Bob Emiliani

Here's a recent article from Bob that was hosted on superfactory.com about the Toyota Way principle of "Respect for People." It's a very well annotated history of writings and references about this oft-forgotten principle. If you're skeptical about the origins or importance of this principle, please check out his article. "Continuous improvement" is not the only important Toyota Way principle. "Continuous improvement" and "respect for people" are of equal importance, according to Toyota.

From the article:

Lean community leaders have recently made two huge changes in how they present Lean. The first change is Lean as a management system rather than “Lean manufacturing.” Second, they are finally taking note of the long-established “Respect for People” principle. Why now? In part because there have been so few successful Lean transformations over the last 20 years. Another reason is that most other aspects of the Lean management system have been studied in detail, so this is the next territory to explore. This batch-and-queue non-integrative approach has severely increased the lead-time needed to properly educate people about Lean management – particularly the “Respect for People” principle.

I have a podcast interview with Bob scheduled for Saturday. If you have questions about that article or his most recent book, Practical Lean Leadership: A Strategic Leadership Guide For Executives, send me an email at leanpodcast [at] gmail [dot] com.

You can listen to my previous podcast with Bob here.

Subscribe via RSS | Lean Blog Main Page | Podcast | Message Board

LeanBlog Podcast #30 -- Bob Emiliani, Update on Wiremold

LeanBlog Podcast #30 is an interview with Bob Emiliani, President the Center for Lean Business Management and author of the books Better Thinking, Better Results and Real Lean: Understanding the Lean Management System (Volume One) (and Volume Two). Before starting the CLBM, Bob had a long career at United Technologies, Pratt & Whitney and also has degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, as well as a PhD in engineering from Brown University.

Better Thinking, Better Results, which is now out in a 2nd revised edition, has a new epilogue about Wiremold, the subject of the book, and how they have moved away from Lean after their acquisition by another company. In this podcast, we’ll talk about why that happened and what others can learn from the story, in efforts to prevent the dismantling of even the most successful of Lean transformations. You can visit his website at theclbm.com. You can visit the page for this podcast at leanpodcast.org for links to Bob and his books, including the “Real Lean” series.

If you enjoy this podcast, I hope you'll check out the rest of the series by visiting the LeanBlog podcast main page.

MP3 File (Right Click to Save-As)

Keywords and Main Points, Episode #30

• Background on the story, via Evolving Excellence


• Why did you update the Wiremold story and produce a second edition of your book Better Thinking, Better Results?”


• So what happened?


• Why didn’t Legrand value the Lean transformation that Art, his team, and the people of Wiremold did?


• So it looks like Legrand make some mistakes.


• What can we learn from what happened to Wiremold?

If you have feedback on the podcast, or any questions for me or my guests, you can email me at leanpodcast@gmail.com or you can call and leave a voicemail by calling the "Lean Line" at (817) 776-LEAN (817-776-5326) or contact me via Skype id "mgraban". Please give your location and your first name. Any comments (email or voicemail) might be used in follow ups to the podcast. Click here for the main LeanBlog Podcast page with all previous episodes.

Subscribe via RSS Lean Blog Main Page Podcast Message Board

Upcoming Podcast: Bob Emiliani

I'm announcing another LeanBlog Podcast, with Bob Emiliani, President of The Center for Lean Business Management, LLC and co-author of the book Better Thinking, Better Results, the Wiremold Lean story.

Wiremold is a well-known Lean success story, but the 2nd edition of the book tells the more recent path that Wiremold has been on, as highlighted recently on the Evolving Excellence blog. It seems like a sad story, but one we can learn from.

If you have questions for Bob, email me at leanpodcast@gmail.com or leave a voicemail question by calling 817-776-LEAN or by using Skype ID "mgraban".

Subscribe via RSS | Lean Blog Main Page |Podcast | Message Board

Linking Lean Thinking to Education - Conference Notes

Last week I attended the joint meeting of LEAN (Lean Education Academic Network) and EdNet (Lean Aerospace Initiative Education Network) in Worcester Massachusetts. Here’s a link to the conference website:

There were about 75 participants at the meeting and I had the opportunity to meet and share ideas with lean practitioners from both academia and the aerospace industry from across the country. (there were also participants from Cardiff University in the U.K.). The conference was very thoughtfully organized and included keynote addresses by Dr. Jodi Hoffer Gittell, author of "The Southwest Airlines Way"; Bob Emiliani, author of "Better Thinking, Better Results" and Jim Womack.

There are several items from the conference that I want to share and expand on through the blog over the next few weeks, starting with some general observations and comments.

Discussion topics at the conference all centered around 2 major themes:

1. The need to incorporate the topics of lean, Six Sigma and related
theories into the curriculum for business and engineering students

2. Improving the quality of education by applying lean theories and
principles to the administration, organization and delivery of course
work.

Surrounding these themes were several discussions on, among many other matters, how to affect change in curriculums; the importance of having educators who have industry and lean application experience; and how academia can learn from and work more closely with industry to provide opportunities for students to have learning experiences in real-world environments.

For me, the major take-away is that a genuine Pull for graduates with an understanding of lean is starting to develop. Each of the industry organizations represented expressed frustration with the low level of knowledge and understanding and application experience new hires have in lean. To be sure these attendees represented organizations that are more advanced in lean thinking and practice than most, however their need for lean talent in new hires is very real, and very encouraging.

Look for more posts in the coming weeks on:
- Lean Certification
- Improving Universities through lean
- Applying lean tools to courses
- Womack’s vision of a ‘Gemba University’
- Teaching Vs. Providing an Educational Experience
- Notes from Raytheon tour
- Interview with Bob Emiliani

Real Lean Vs. Fake Lean

iSixSigma Message Boards

Interesting discussion on "real lean vs. fake lean". No, I'm not the "Mark" who started this thread on that board.

The professor mentioned in the original post is Bob Emiliani, from the Center for Lean Business Management and the book "Better Thinking, Better Results", which is primarily about the Wiremold lean journey.