The Going Lean Fieldbook: A Practical Guide to Lean Transformation and Sustainable Success

In "Going Lean", author Stephen A. Ruffa introduced the groundbreaking principles of Lean Dynamics, revealing how leading companies go beyond chasing the most visible outcomes of lean to address the disconnects that cause operational waste to accumulate. Illustrated by compelling cases and clear examples, "The Going Lean Fieldbook" provides a logical structure and practical advice for applying lean principles throughout the organization. Useful as a stand-alone implementation guide and as a training resource, the book maps out a set path toward reaching a series of critical transformation levels, detailing the activities and the hazards that can derail the journey at each point along the way. Readers will learn how to promote stability, consistency, and innovation by first conducting a 'dynamic value assessment' and attaining the buy-in that is critical to making business improvements work. Based on lessons of real-life firms from different industries that have successfully implemented lean methods, this is an in-the-trenches manual for anyone who wants to energize their organization.

Table of Contents:
Contents Preface ix Introduction--Solving the Problem with Lean 1 The Dynamic Basis for Lean 3 How to Use This Book 11 PART 1 A CASE FOR CHANGE Chapter 1 Redefining the Competitive Solution 17 Seeing Beyond Stability 18 Approaching Lean as a Dynamic Business Solution 27 Chapter 2 Creating a Sense of Excitement 36 Setting a New Course 37 Establishing a Dynamic Vision for the Future 42 Chapter 3 The Road to Lean Advancement 52 Beginning the Journey 53 The Five Levels of Lean Maturity 57 PART 2 STRUCTURING FOR LEAN DYNAMICS Chapter 4 Building a New Foundation 67 Seeing Beyond the Waste 69 Assessing the Foundation of Value Creation 73 Chapter 5 Organizational Flow as the Pathway to Lean 82 Simplifying Through Decentralization 84 Establishing Organizational Flow 89 Chapter 6 Targeting Transformation 94 Creating Solutions, Not Chasing Problems 95 Transforming from the Top 102 PART 3 IN PURSUIT OF SUSTAINABLE EXCELLE NCE Chapter 7 Taking Action 111 An Iterative Cycle to Advancement 112 Advancing Up the Levels of Lean Maturity 115 Chapter 8 Shattering the Barriers to Innovation 125 Leaning Product Development 126 Innovation as an Ongoing Enterprise Focus 131 Seeing Product Design as an Integral Part of the Solution 134 Chapter 9 Finding Opportunity in Crisis 137 A New Model for Creating Value 138 Fostering Dynamic Customer Solutions 147 Chapter 10 Rethinking Tradition 150 Choosing a Path 151 Seeing the Art of the Possible 154 Appendix A A Framework for Conducting the Dynamic Value Assessment 157 Baselining Dynamic Value Creation 159 Determining the Starting Point 165 Identifying the State of Lean Maturity 168 Appendix B Constructing the Value Curve 169 The Elements of the Value Curve 170 Performing Value Curve Calculations 171 Interpreting the Value Curve 175 Glossary 179 Notes 185 Index 201 About the Author 209

About the Author :
Stephen A. Ruffa (Oak Hill, VA) is an aerospace engineer, researcher, and business consultant specializing in applying lean principles to overcome the challenges of dynamic business conditions. A winner of the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing Research, he is the author of Going Lean (978-0-8144-1057-8).