Disappointing. Here is a summary

I have just got to chapter 7 (out of 10) and can't take it anymore. Quitting.
Here is what I have learned so far:
- Toyota is the best. Even when it fails, it's still the best.
- Nobody really understands the Toyota Way (Toyota Production System or TPS)
- TPS is hard and takes a long time to figure out.
- Even if somebody figured it out, it would still not work for them, because it's very individual. Even what works at one Toyota factory, it won't work at another. And you actually need to figure it out on your own.
- There are no shortcuts in TPS. It takes a long time. Toyota has figured it out and it works for Toyota, but you probably won't understand anyway.

THAT'S IT. No details. No practical tips. Just self-accolades and cryptic messages. Soft of philosophy, but no practice whatsoever. So far, I have not learned anything. No practical insight. Only constant repetition that Toyota is great and it does something very deep and meaningful, but no explanation what it is and how it works.

Maybe there will be more substance in the remaining three chapters, but I can't take it anymore.

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43 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

ONLY leaders should read, bean counters shouldn't

Good book on the origins of Lean Methodology and the Toyota system. Too bad most who practice Lean, Six Sigma, etc do not take in the whole education; as Americans we seem to short cut everything. Due to these short cuts, we have a lot of businesses that after recent economic circumstances are finding themselves at a point where they may not survive as a company. The recession was only the catalyst; shortsighted leadership was the true cause as most companies raced to the bottom in cutting costs to the point I fear a large number will not be able to recover. A tool is only as good as the craftsman that wields it. Needless to say Lean Leadership is all about leadership and has nothing to do with cutting costs. I would have recommended this book, but it is like handing a loaded handgun to a toddler."

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17 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

It Isn't What You Migh Think

Everyone is familiar with Toyota as a brand. Some are aware of the Toyota manufacturing process. Being aware of the process is not being familiar and being familiar does not imply one is conversant with how it really works. Along comes Jeffrey Liker (The Toyota Way) and Gary Convis with The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership filling any gaps in our understanding. Importantly, Liker and Convis use a narrative approach to presenting their material. They use multiple examples and anecdotes to illustrate the concepts they are reporting. Their use of vignettes to describe how lead leadership works, certainly nourishes the reader’s understanding. Readers interested in manufacturing, Japanese culture, leadership, adult education, and other related topics will find this volume most informative. There is no need to be an engineer, Liker and Convis make the topic readily available to the general reader. The narration of Jim Meskimen is very good.

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11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Don't Waste Time or Money

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

If there is one business book to pass, unless you have never been in business world, this is it. In the first part, the author cannot outdo himself praising the company. Most of the book offers advice that is simple and basic, such as when learning something new go slow first. To add air of sophistication, the author uses Japanese terms without any real justification, and repeats them over and over. You will have to translate them every time in your mind to figure out what he is saying. Instead of using workshop, as in check reality at the manufacturing floor, he uses the word gamba or something like that. This usage detracts from the points being made and is annoying. This book would be most useful for new hires at the company, to give them a feel of the culture. For insights and ideas you can use elsewhere, look elsewhere for another source or book.

What could Jeffrey Liker and Gary L. Convis have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

These authors could have done some evaluation and critical analysis, instead of repeating corporate corn.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It does offer insight into the company.

Any additional comments?

Too bad that there are so many more business books than there should be.

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11 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Not Much Here

Has The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership turned you off from other books in this genre?

First quarter of the book they explain what they are going to do and then never really ever get to it.

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6 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Well worth the cost!

Valuable insight into the workings of Toyota, and the quality of this audiobook is one of the best I have heard. That makes sense since TPS is about quality and would have been ironic if the audiobook discussing it was itself of a low quality. Puts into perspective the application of quality improvement tools like Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, etc. in how they relate to culture of Toyota that focuses on continuous improve via leader development on TPS.

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4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Love it

TPS goes deep and the authors flesh it out as much as practical in one volume. Recommend read for leaders especially manufacturing leaders.

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3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

So many takeaways to follow

It is a bible about best practices that you maybe have already read but the example and tips are great!

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3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

how to turn around and become better

If you could sum up The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership in three words, what would they be?

Think simple, think in the customer and how they use your product.

What did you like best about this story?

the way Toyota saw a problem and how they use that to change or innovate their way of thinking

What does Jim Meskimen bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jim brings the right tone of importance and motivation to the book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

transforming the present, developing a better future

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I look forward to listening to this again!

I've always been interested in kaizen and intended to read "The Machine that Changed the World" but havn't had the opportunity. This book came up as one of the Audible 2 for 1 deals and I jumped on the chance. Over all I've been very happy. Even when talking about the mundane parts of management I was engaged and enjoyed it. I really recommend this for anyone that is interested in business, business history, management or just enjoys a well put together book.

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