Everything I know about LEAN I learned in first grade

by Robert O. Martichenko

Building on the precedence created by other great Lean books, Everything I Know About Lean I Learned in First Grade brings Lean back to its original simplicity by showing how Lean is alive in a first grade classroom. This book connects Lean tools to the Lean journey, shows how to identify and eliminate waste, and aids the reader in seeing Lean for what it truly to create a learning and problem solving culture. Written to educate the entire organization on the fundamentals of Lean thinking, this is the perfect source to engage all team members at all levels of an organization.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business

116 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Robert Orloe Martichenko was born in Timmins, Ontario, Canada, and has lived in the United States for the past two decades. He is a CEO, entrepreneur, speaker, writer, poet, father, husband, son, brother, nephew, and friend. Robert has a bachelor's degree in mathematics, an MBA, a Six Sigma Black Belt and is the author of several successful business books -- including his debut fictional novel, Drift and Hum, winner of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for Best First Book Fiction.

PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY:

Robert Martichenko is the Chief Executive Officer of LeanCor Supply Chain Group.

Robert's entire career has been committed to third-party logistics. Beginning in transportation and warehousing, Robert continued his career learning and implementing Lean and operational excellence with a focus on end to end supply chain management. This experience allowed Robert to found LeanCor for the sole purpose of supporting customers to build and sustain supply chain performance. As an operator and thought leader, LeanCor relentlessly tries to optimize those processes that add value and eliminate those that are waste.

In addition to leading LeanCor, Robert is a senior instructor for the Lean Enterprise Institute and the Georgia Tech Supply Chain and Logistics Institute, as well as a frequent speaker for professional industry groups around the world.

Robert received the 2015 Distinguished Service Award from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), was named a "Pro to Know" by Supply & Demand Chain Executive and a 2014 "Rainmaker" by DC Velocity, and was chosen as a 2015 C-Suite honoree by Venue & LEAD Magazine

Reviews

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a pretty interesting book. My boss gave it to me to read, as it was given to him by corporate as "homework". It's about integrating certain aspects into your business, but it is done through a story of a day in Kindergarten! I read it in about an hour/hour and a half. Worth the read.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A professional development book highlighting core lean principles by illustrating them with examples from the author's daughter's first grade classroom. Slow paced and very basic, it does introduce the concepts, but to really implement them I think more information would be needed.

[Bob Wallner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to keep a copy of this book in my possession at all times so the next time I hear “We’re not a car manufacturer, this won’t work here” I can throw it at the person, or perhaps more tactfully suggest they read it.

This cute little book has been on my to-read radar for a very long time but felt too simplified to earn a high spot on my list. At just over 100 pages, It is one of the easiest reads I can imagine. Its clear concise chapters allow the reader to pick up the book and cover a chapter in 10 minutes.

The book is business fiction but is written from real-life experience. The author shadows his first-grade daughter to school on her first day. He sits in the class where he observes that the entire school is operating as a lean enterprise and they don’t even know what lean is. The teacher is applying 5s and visual management concepts into her classroom as well has separating value from waste. The principal is demonstrating respect for people by setting clear expectations and visions for the teachers and students and going to the source to understand the current situation. The cafeteria superintendent is using takt to manage flow, and the administration is using pull to minimize inventory of supplies while ensuring they have parts.

Each chapter is separated into the story, the wise old owl reflecting, and three takeaways from the chapter. It allows for an entertaining story and follow up for reflection all while I sat and enjoyed a cup of coffee.

This is an excellent primer to what lean is especially for those who feel it is for manufacturing only.

[L · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so poorly written and I didn't retain any of the Lean Principles from the book. Too distracted by the god awful writing. (Thankfully I took a class before reading this book & so I remember the principles & thinking from there).

So many inconsistencies in the book (ironic given Lean is all about not delivering defects to the customer) that detract from the story/learning... and the story is so unbelievable it also detracts from the actual learning.
The author is insufferably condescending and arrogant in his interactions with the teachers & principal of the school. I wanted to enter the story to tell him to leave the teacher alone at several points.
At the very end, the author confirms that the book is a conglomerate of multiple school visits and not just one day like the story claims. Boy does that show!

Honestly, I would love to Lean the book & clear out the waste of words in order to focus on the important parts aka the Lean principles & how easy they are to apply to daily life. How all of us are probably already using the principles and just not aware of the terms that exist.

Strongly recommend reading a different book if you truly want to learn Lean thinking & principles & how to apply them.
If you do get this book- just read the pages with Orlo the Owl highlights & ignore the rest.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know nothing about Lean, read this book. Lean is a mindset, a way of thinking and managing, which also means it’s very tricky to actually understand. It’s built on foundational principles - guiding statements that should always be followed and are the reasons WHY we’re using all the interesting “tools” like Kanban and visual management. This book explains the tools and some (a very small sliver) of the underlying principles. This book’s biggest success is that it’s practical and easily understandable - it provides tangible concepts. Most lean books will be about principles, making them valuable for learning the lean way of thinking but incredibly difficult to actually understand and put into practices. The practicality of this book makes it a success.

[Bob Wallner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little primer on what lean is as a system. The author walks us through a day spent in first grade and various methods that the teachers and the school use throughout the day.

The wise old owl at the end of each chapter is used as a reflection point for how these topics can be used. Topix include what you would expect such as 5S and visual control, but also include chapters on respect for people and method for sustainment.

The book is well written, any audiobook is well narrated. This would be a good audiobook to relisten to occasionally when looking for inspiration. It's not technically deep in the story is engaging.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lean is a mindset or a way of thinking. You can't just throw tools or strategies at problems without understanding the root cause. "We must understand the 'why' before we can apply the 'how'."

Just like lean, this was a simple yet effective book that truly made me take a step back and think, "Wow, why are we doing it that way and not this way in the warehouse." Even though the context of this book is in a first grade classroom, I was always able to apply the concepts and end-of-chapter learnings to my workplace.

[Divya Murugesan Nullathemby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book portrays how LEAN principles are present in our daily lives and how we even do some of them without paying attention. Now that we know about the principle and we are "aware" of it, we can easily identify the ways to continuous improve and avoid unnecessary troubles.

I highly recommend it as an introduction to anyone who wants to learn about LEAN Management and principles. This book is a good base to start off. Basically Lean is very simple to grasp and this books portrays it perfectly.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my quest to learn more about LEAN I learned of this book and thought it might be good for others, but as I often do I gave it a preview read to see what was the available information. This book helped me understand concepts that have escaped my understanding for two years and to be quite honest I have been avoiding learning them any more than in a cursory manner. I want to work in the lean department of my facility and that is why I am studying these texts but this introductory book gave more insight and more foundational knowledge than all of the other texts I have already read.

[Laurie Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book while I was going through my lean training! I would recommend this book to anyone who is learning about lean as it will help you grasp the concepts. After reading this book, it made me yearn to be a teacher so that I can implement all of these concepts in the classroom! I will be recommending this book as I mentor new lean facilitators and present lean concepts at conferences, webinars, and training sessions!

[Amanda Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great basic thinking

I'm starting in a leadership position that has great responsibility. My boss gave me this book to read. It reminded me that even as an adult, lean principles are necessary. This applies to work, home, and life.
I have learned a lot from this day in first grade.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intro to lean management using a kindergarten classroom as simple examples. Of course it isn't always this simple but it is a fun way to see how you already have done a lot of the lean things already.

[Sonja Bristow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love a good parable book. However, this book was nauseating. I'm not saying someone cannot be excited and see what they want in everything that they encounter. However, I was happy this was a quick read and it was done quick enough.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for work. It's great way for looking at office techniques as basic classroom objectives/rules, and gives you an idea of how you can organize your company a little better.

[Angela McVay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually quite enjoyable as the author used a first grade classroom to illustrate and demonstrate the LEAN process in the workplace.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy 100 pages, complete with tiny chapter recaps to skim. Nice little refresh for the continuous improvement mindset.

[Matthew Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great intro to lean concepts. I knew many of them but was reminded of areas that I need to shore up starting Monday.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read with some Lean concepts.

[Roberto Dawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro simples e didático para passar sobre os conceitos do pensamento lean e suas ferramentas. Excelente ponto de partida sobre o assunto.

[giuliana lantsov · Rating 3 out of 5]

eu não acredito que esse foi o primeiro (e talvez o único) livro que finalizei em 2023

giuliana vc não era assim

[W.B. Abdullah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple way to learn and understand LEAN concepts. Perfect for me as a teacher!

[Kacie Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, if a little cheesy

The author does a good job of laying out the basic concepts of lean. His story is a little forced to fit into the concepts, but overall and enjoyable read.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first pragmatic book on lean that I've read. Most books on lean are the opposite of what the reader is looking for, high-level. The concepts of lean are easy: keep it simple. However, taking complex systems often laid with exceptions and putting them into a "keep it simple" system is the hard part. This book is innovative in explaining lean concepts in an approachable and related environment which makes these concepts much more tangible.

The author has some great insight as well, for example the reason for implementing lean is much more important than the implementation method.

[Steven H]

Business book which brings lean principles to a classroom so everyone can understand the concepts and how they may be applied to our work or personal life to enhance customer value by increasing efficiency, catching mistakes before they move to the next task, and reducing waste through inventory tracking.. Overall a good read and provides an intro to Lean, and how you can make changes to make your work more productive and provide customer value. The book also highlights the fact that this will NOT be successful unless there is a buy-in from all members of the organization.

[Bob Schatz]

I loved this book. Gave it to my daughter who is a 2nd grade teacher in Philadelphia. She has already done an awesome job of implementing Scrum and Lean techniques in her classroom.

Again, it shows how simple some of the agile/lean concepts can be, and how it is more of a culture change than an implementation of techniques.

[Herman · Rating 4 out of 5]

English Title is: "Everything I Know About Lean I Learned in First Grade"

GREAT primer on lean thinking. Does not focus on the tools, but on the organizational culture underpinning lean. Easily readable on a short flight. Well worth it.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy to understand overview.

Some of the scenarios seem staged,but what I liked is that this is a lean book about Lean. The situations are presented then the Lean concepts illustrated.

[Mark Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I am the spouse of a teacher and I must admit I didn't realize how advanced their class management techniques really were. This is a great little book and if you're willing to stop for a moment and reflect on what the author is saying, you just might learn something.

[Ben Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good introductory level book. Great to read w/ customer, provided lots of good conversation around why we are doing what we are doing when we do an operational start up.

[Erin M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read this as "work homework". It is a good first exposure to LEAN principles - a little cheesy, a little oversimplified, but still a good primer.