Lean Transformations for Small and Medium Enterprises: Lessons Learned from Italian Businesses

2016 | Business & Finance

Lean Transformations for Small and Medium Enterprises: Lessons Learned from Italian Businesses summarizes two decades of research, teaching, and practice on lean thinking. Based on quantitative analysis of 100 cases of Lean transformations and 20 in-depth case studies of successfully transformed SMEs, it explains how to undertake lean transformations that lead to operational and financial performance improvement, and uses the Lean Transformation Framework --conceptualized by John Shook at the Lean Enterprise Institute-as a practical approach to design and de-risk the transformation process. SMEs' leaders wishing to undertake and sustain a lean transformation must: * Make a serious and lasting commitment to transform, avoiding the temptation to change course of action; * Choose accurately the value streams that require improvement as defined by strategy deployment; * Build capabilities to sustain the transformation; * Lead by example by going to gemba and creating a culture of respect for people that goes beyond the visible devices and artifacts of Lean tools.

Arnaldo Camuffo (Author)