Practicing Lean: Learning How to Learn How to Get Better... Better

This is a book about practicing, learning, and sharing our experiences with the Lean methodology and the Toyota Production System.Doctors don't "implement medicine," they practice medicine.Lawyers don't "implement cases," they practice law.Shouldn't Lean facilitators, consultants, managers, and the like, also "practice Lean?" When most of us start with Lean, the practices and principles are new. We might struggle to make change happen. I know I did. Our initial clumsy efforts hopefully turn into proficiency and mastery over time. We shift from "doing Lean" to "being Lean" and teaching others how to be Lean.This book is a collection of honest and unvarnished first hand stories about learning, failing, and getting better at leading Lean transformation efforts. What mistakes have been made? What are the lessons learned? How do we "Plan, Do, Study, Adjust" our way to more effective Lean transformation models?Proceeds from the book will be donated to the non-profit Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation. Disclosure: Mark Graban is on the board of the Batz Foundation.We have a diverse set of contributors who come from various industries - manufacturing, healthcare, software, startups, etc. Authors include:Mark GrabanAuthor of the books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, blogger at LeanBlog.orgNick RuhmannDirector of Operational Excellence for Aon National Flood Services, Inc.Michael LombardChief Executive Officer of Cornerstone Critical Care Specialty Hospital of Southwest LouisianaPaul AkersPresident of FastCap, author of 2-Second Lean and Lean HealthJamie Parker15 years' experience in operations management / leadership in retail, service, and manufacturing Harry KenworthyExpert in Lean government after a long career in manufacturingBob RushLean Manufacturing Group Leader for Tesla MotorsSamuel SelayContinuous Improvement Manager for the Marine Corps at Camp PendletonDavid HaighDavid works at Johnson & Johnson Canada, the largest consumer healthcare company in CanadaJoe SwartzAdministrative Director, Business Transformation, Franciscan Alliance, co-author of Healthcare KaizenCameron StarkPhysician and Lean improvement leader in ScotlandHarvey LeachPrincipal Consultant with The Consultancy Company based near Oxford, EnglandAndy SheppardAuthor, The Incredible Transformation of Gregory Todd: a Novel about Leadership and Managing ChangeMike LeighPresident and Founder of OpX Solutions, LLC and former Lean leader at General ElectricJamie FlinchbaughLean advisor, speaker, and author, who has advised over 300 companies on their Lean journeyLesa NicholsFounder, Lesa Nichols Consulting and former Toyota leaderThe book also contains relevant posts from Mark Graban's LeanBlog.org.