Of the 100 companies named to Fortune magazine’s list of the world’s largest companies in 1956, only 29 of those companies remain on that list today. Many lost their way because they failed to recognize the changes taking place, or were too big to react quickly enough to shifting market conditions.
Supplying Lean practitioners with a formal process for keeping up with technological advancements and shifting business requirements, The Future of Lean Sigma Thinking in a Changing Business Environment provides the tools to not only survive, but prosper through the current business environment. It introduces cutting-edge business solutions from the fields of chemical engineering, aircraft production, and business psychology, and explains how to integrate these concepts with proven Lean principles.
The book begins by providing a foundation in essential Lean concepts, including Deming and Juran, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, the Toyota Production System, and New Six Sigma. Next, it reports on the latest advances in process understanding. By analyzing changing attitudes within the system, it illustrates how new products are being developed using updated Lean thinking. In addition, it provides examples that demonstrate the impact of e-commerce on Lean production systems.
Incorporating the green agenda to Lean thinking, the text supplies the insight to safely navigate your company through a shifting business landscape while reducing your impact on raw materials and the environment. By following the principles discussed in this book, you will not only increase your company’s chances of achieving long-term survival but will position your organization to capitalize on the economic upturn on the horizon.
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1 : Quality Initiatives
Chapter 2 : Production Systems
Chapter 3 : The History and Development of the Toyota Production System
Chapter 4 : Global Motor Manufacturing in the Credit Crunch of 2008–2009
Chapter 5 : The Impact of Global Attitudes and Bailout Conditions
Chapter 6 : How the Toyota Production System and Lean Thinking are Currently Implemented
Chapter 7 : Recent Advances in Process Understanding
Chapter 8 : Business Psychology Concepts
Chapter 9 : Changing Attitudes
Chapter 10 : The "No-Change" Scenario and Possible Future Changes
Index
