ARTICLE DESCRIPTION: This is not a book to sit and read from cover to cover, but a real reference book that should sit on the shelf of anyone interested in improving their operations and which can be dipped into as required. Like all well equipped toolboxes, it will contain tools that get used everyday, and become familiar friends. Likewise it will have tools that after the initial trial may languish in the bottom of the box until they are needed.

MORE INFO: Book reviews: The New Lean Toolbox This is not a book to sit and read from cover to cover, but a real reference book that should sit on the shelf of anyone interested in improving their operations and which can be dipped into as required. Like all well equipped toolboxes, it will contain tools that get used everyday, and become familiar friends. Likewise it will have tools that after the initial trial may languish in the bottom of the box until they are needed. A smaller format and a revised layout are the things that first strike you about this re-vamped classic. But the changes go beyond the cosmetic. The topics are grouped in more logical sections and a quick glance through the index shows a great number of new topics, reflecting the development of lean techniques since the first edition was produced. John takes you through the tools in the order they would probably be employed; starting with the history and philosophy of Lean, and stepping through Lean Frameworks, Value Strategy Planning and Deployment, Preparing for Flow, into a large section on Mapping, Audits and Analysis which covers the various stages of implementing lean in some detail. The latter sections of the book look at ‘life after lean’, starting with the Theory of Constraints and Factory Physics and moving through sections on Quality; Improvement, People and Sustainability into New Product Development and Introduction. Lean Supply and finally Accounting and Measurements close the book. The writing style is relaxed and not too technical, making it easy to grasp the fundamentals of the tools and their usage. There are plenty of suggestions for further reading on each topic if you need more detail. This is a ‘must have’ book for anyone involved in managing operations, and certainly one for my bookshelf. Frank Wright , MIOM Ordnance Survey

PUBLISHER: Institute of Operations Management

Page number: 12 Word count: 300

Vol 31 - No 01 - February 2005

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