What should you do first when starting to implement lean manufacturing? What comes next, then next? With the raft of information now available about lean principles, its easy to get confused. Kaizen Express clarifies the process using a rapid, nonstop style to explain the essential elements of the Toyota Production System (TPS) in a logical implementation sequence. This succinct but comprehensive back-to-basics book offers lean novices and veterans alike a comprehensive primer on lean principles and implementation that returns to fundamentals and stresses the importance of learning by doing at the individual and team levels. Originally developed as an aid for teaching the essential elements of TPS to Japanese readers and non-Japanese readers working together at Japanese factories around the world, Kaizen Express keeps the bilingual format. It also preserves the illustrations or charts on every page that reinforce key points. The book also includes a glossary of TPS terms in English and Japanese and a set of standard forms used to implement TPS at production sites. |
Review
"Kaizen Express" is a fascinating book. Not only for its content but because its bi-lingual. Half of the book is in English and half of the book is in Japanese (to be more precise, the left side of the page is in English, while the right side is in Japanese). I'm not able to read the Japanese, but it does give the feeling that this book... is different ;)
Kaizen Express is an introduction book to the Toyota Production System fundamentals. Its a small book (about 160 pages) and is exceptionally well written. Its perhaps the best introduction book on the subject I know of. Therefore, this book offers little for people who know TSP better except for a good reminder of the basics and every now and then some insights that are not covered elsewhere.
The book consists of five chapters. The first chapters is a very short introduction to TPS. The second chapter introduces JIT, flow, and Heijunka. The third chapter covers Jidoka and the relationship between humans and machines. The next chapter discusses process stability, standardized work and visual management. The last chapter covers adoption.
As said, the book provides an excellent introduction in lean topics and TPS and I'd recommend it for that purpose. It exceeds what I would except from a pure introduction but it is not a mind-changing book (at least, not for me). Therefore, four out of five stars. Recommended for lean beginners. By Bas Vodde.
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