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Lean Solutions: How Companies and Customers Can Create Value and Wealth Together
A massive disconnect exists today between consumers and providers. As consumers, we have a greater selection of higher quality goods and services to choose from, yet our experience of obtaining and using these items is more frustrating than ever. At the same time, companies find themselves with declining customer loyalty, greater challenges in fulfilling orders, and a general sense of dissatisfaction in connecting with their customers. In LEAN SOLUTIONS, lean production experts Womack and Jones show consumers and companies alike how they can align their goals to achieve greater value with less waste.
368 pages, Paperback
First published September 13, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 27, 2018
Brilliant book, fantastic reading experience.
I have never found myself with such positive energy & motivation to apply myself, from any other book.
The collaborative ability of the authors to articulate what could be from their observations of what is, clearly demonstrates a lifelong commitment to a powerful philosophy of thought.
I have never found myself with such positive energy & motivation to apply myself, from any other book.
The collaborative ability of the authors to articulate what could be from their observations of what is, clearly demonstrates a lifelong commitment to a powerful philosophy of thought.
September 11, 2013
The concept of providing turn-key solutions for customers is not new, but 'Lean Solutions' definitely adds new intelligence to how the modern business can leverage the concept of vertical integration.
The book describes a - conspicuously physical supply-chain oriented - set of examples of how solutions providers can make their customers happier by taking the value of their time into more serious consideration. It goes on to discuss some - what in my mind were more interesting - examples of how customers might turn to solutions over products.
What a solutions economy would look like is where folks don't really own the product, but just pay for the value that the product provides them. For example, paying for miles driven rather than for a car. Actually, it is this concept exposed in detail only in the last chapter: "Solve my Problem Permanently" that I feel should have taken up the lion's share of the book.
If the writer's would write another with a more compelling focus on the solutions economy given the emergence of great examples since the writing of this one (e.g., Zipcar, Task Rabbit, Craigslist, collaborative consumption companies), I would be most interested.
The book describes a - conspicuously physical supply-chain oriented - set of examples of how solutions providers can make their customers happier by taking the value of their time into more serious consideration. It goes on to discuss some - what in my mind were more interesting - examples of how customers might turn to solutions over products.
What a solutions economy would look like is where folks don't really own the product, but just pay for the value that the product provides them. For example, paying for miles driven rather than for a car. Actually, it is this concept exposed in detail only in the last chapter: "Solve my Problem Permanently" that I feel should have taken up the lion's share of the book.
If the writer's would write another with a more compelling focus on the solutions economy given the emergence of great examples since the writing of this one (e.g., Zipcar, Task Rabbit, Craigslist, collaborative consumption companies), I would be most interested.
February 2, 2009
This is really terrific - and the EXAMPLES are really terrific. They are practical, and really help the reader envision what they are recommending. Plus, they give you ideas:-)
May 3, 2023
Not quite what I had expected from Womack and Jones, this book deals with consumption from the point of view of the customer and what they want/need from a company to solve their problems. Those problems are listed in six key areas which the first part of the book explains and then the rest of the book demonstrates by lengthy case studies.
The other side of this consumptions is from the suppliers, looking at their processes to reduce or eliminate waste to satisfy the customer.
Not many tools in this book, but more ideas based on research using lean. But if you look closely, it follows from their previous work -
Step 1: Consumption and Provision maps = VSM
Step 2: Identify the VA and NVA = Flow
Step 3: Study the process to identify the times, eliminate the NVA = Flow / Pull
No real difference to the manufacturing processes.
The other side of this consumptions is from the suppliers, looking at their processes to reduce or eliminate waste to satisfy the customer.
Not many tools in this book, but more ideas based on research using lean. But if you look closely, it follows from their previous work -
Step 1: Consumption and Provision maps = VSM
Step 2: Identify the VA and NVA = Flow
Step 3: Study the process to identify the times, eliminate the NVA = Flow / Pull
No real difference to the manufacturing processes.
June 27, 2021
Seeing lean from the perspective of the consumer and how that dovetails with the producer puts an interesting twist to the whole of the value stream. Over the 16 years since this was published, the rallying cry has sadly been unheard. Their are echoes in cloud computing but it seems the selfish wheels of mass consumerism have yet to derail in such a way for lean consumerism to take hold. Will the pandemic crisis be that event?
One interesting idea was that the effort shopping takes is "unpaid work" as is coordinating car servicing and healthcare. Perhaps it is us that ought to create the crisis by not allowing ourselves to do more "unpaid work" than is necessary and instead look for providers of lean solutions.
One interesting idea was that the effort shopping takes is "unpaid work" as is coordinating car servicing and healthcare. Perhaps it is us that ought to create the crisis by not allowing ourselves to do more "unpaid work" than is necessary and instead look for providers of lean solutions.
June 30, 2018
I really enjoy the authors' works. I appreciate the authors speculations, even when I have strong doubts as to their practicality. Perhaps, new technologies will emerge to make these possible. Still, I am reminded how frustrating broken and needless processes can be both to the customer and the staff. Some of their calculations of waste are stunning. Now, if we do manage to get closer to perfection, we will need less people, but the products will be cheaper, and we hopefully find good ways to put them to use in other enterprises.
September 3, 2018
In the turnaround strategies, educating and monitoring real-time cases requires streamlining each of those business portfolio is crucial. This is book where we could look into optimizing or leveraging partners, users/customers, and principal. The utmost important is to strengthening relation with our existing and/or potential clients. Enhancing their SOPs, transferring BPOs, and to materialize more value added features in ensuring applying values and/or wealth creation to our customer, clients/partners.
February 17, 2016
Womack & Jones extend their examinations of Lean manufacturing to encompass distribution and consumption by the end-user as well. A really good book, though with a couple of reservations:
- It was a shame that they didn't have more variety in the 'case studies' they did - when Big Box retailer (do it like the Tesco model we described earlier) and Healthcare (do it like car servicing we described earlier) are 2 of the 3, it dilutes the value by making it look like there are only limited models that are usable.
- Their lean production/consumption model requires much more information from the consumer to the producer than is normally provided currently. They correctly identify the problems with this, but then superficially dismiss them in a couple of pages; the issue of privacy & information security in particular is eliminated by invoking a Deus Ex Machina privacy body which doesn't exist (and which I don't believe would be trusted if it did)
So, not a panacea, but still a really good book, and recommended reading for pretty much every company leader.
- It was a shame that they didn't have more variety in the 'case studies' they did - when Big Box retailer (do it like the Tesco model we described earlier) and Healthcare (do it like car servicing we described earlier) are 2 of the 3, it dilutes the value by making it look like there are only limited models that are usable.
- Their lean production/consumption model requires much more information from the consumer to the producer than is normally provided currently. They correctly identify the problems with this, but then superficially dismiss them in a couple of pages; the issue of privacy & information security in particular is eliminated by invoking a Deus Ex Machina privacy body which doesn't exist (and which I don't believe would be trusted if it did)
So, not a panacea, but still a really good book, and recommended reading for pretty much every company leader.
May 25, 2008
I read this for work in preparation for the training I'm taking in June. It definitely gave me a different perspective of the service industries or the point of view of the customer. Obviously we know that the vast majorities of companies are just out there to turn a profit. But the way this book thinks things would be better is if we had a chain of solutions with fewer providers. That sounds like a monopoly to me, even if they did prove they were the best solution. I think that those goals could be achieved while still allowing the customer some choice.
November 18, 2013
The first half of the book was quite interesting. The second half dragged a bit feeling wordy. Some interesting ideas, but I think the challenges mentioned in the last chapter are not so easily overcome.
September 12, 2008
Good overview of the Lean methodology.
August 9, 2011
Book on Paradigm shift in Value Sourcing
November 22, 2011
Fantastic. Real solutions for entrepreneurs and managers looking to drive real change in the model and processes of their businesses. If you're into the lean startup stuff, this is a must-read.
December 12, 2017
awesome book!
October 17, 2015
I need to read...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2016
It was ok. There were some good examples, but it was not in an area that really interested me.
February 22, 2017
A must read for senior managers.
In my list of the best business books to read: http://albertoalopez.blogspot.com/201...
In my list of the best business books to read: http://albertoalopez.blogspot.com/201...
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July 22, 2010Recommended by Ian Clarkson at AmazonFresh
May 12, 2010
If I was a CEO or owner of a company, this book would have been great.
November 27, 2013
superb book. . .. . .little things change a lot in business. . . . .
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews