The Machine That Changed the World
(James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones, and Daniel Roos)

Why Read It?

Lean production was Japan’s secret weapon in the trade war, and it went on to conquer the world. In 1984 a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) undertook a study of it. Within the framework of an analysis of the situation and problems of auto manufacturers worldwide, Womack, Jones, and Roos examined the differences between mass and lean production. This widely read and wisely praised book presents their findings.

Getting Started

Lean production will supersede the mass production of goods, the authors announce. It can simultaneously double productivity, improve quality, and keep costs low. The book recounts the history of the rise of lean production, describes its essential elements, and presents the prospects for the spread of this revolutionary management initiative.