The Lean Management Systems Handbook

This book presents a first of its kind approach that describes critical components for sustainable Lean management. The handbook shows how managers at all levels of the organization can integrate Lean into their daily management activities. It also defines the Lean philosophy, beliefs and behaviors required to develop a thriving Lean company culture. Packed with detailed examples and step-by-step instructions, it's the ideal handy reference guide to help mangers and leaders make the transition from the classroom to the field. It will feature brief summaries and examples of the most important tools in Lean management systems development.

Richard M. Charron is the founder and president of The Lean Manufacturing Group, a South Florida company that provides a number of hands-on Employee Learning & Lean Implementation programs focused on waste elimination, productivity improvement, and profitability enhancement. He is a Certified Master Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma Excellence from the Harrington Institute. He has trained and coached over 100 teams in Lean manufacturing, Lean Six Sigma, and Kaizen events generating savings over $25MM. In conjunction with Strategy Associates, he completed a three-part DVD series on Lean concepts for the University of Central Florida. His expertise is in process performance excellence, Lean Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, design for manufacturability, problem solving, product and process failure analysis, products development, and performance testing. Mr. Charron earned BS and MS degrees in plastics engineering from the University of Massachusetts. His MS Thesis "Product Liability in the Plastics Industry" is a survey of our legal system that spans the impacts of unsafe products and the ever-changing legal uncertainties. He is the author of a dozen technical publications on product quality, products performance testing, and products failure analysis.

In the book, Tech Trending, H. James Harrington was referred to as "the quintessential tech trender." The New York Times referred to him as having a "… knack for synthesis and an open mind about packaging his knowledge and experience in new ways—characteristics that may matter more as prerequisites for new economy success than technical wizardry…." Tom Peters, the author, stated, "I fervently hope that Harrington’s readers will not only benefit from the thoroughness of his effort but will also ‘smell’ the fundamental nature of the challenge for change that he mounts." William Clinton, past president of the United States, appointed Dr. Harrington to serve as an Ambassador of Good Will. It has been said about him, "He writes the books that other consultants use." Harrington Institute was featured on a half-hour TV program, Heartbeat of America, which focuses on outstanding small businesses that make America strong. The host, William Shatner, stated: "You (Dr. Harrington) manage an entrepreneurial company that moves America forward. You are obviously successful."

Dr. Harrington now serves as the chief executive officer for the Harrington Institute. He also serves as the chairman of the board for a number of businesses. Dr. Harrington is recognized as one of the world leaders in applying performance improvement methodologies to business processes. He has an excellent record of coming into an organization, working as its CEO or COO, resulting in a major improvement in its financial and quality performance.

In February 2002, Dr. Harrington retired as the COO of Systemcorp A.L.G., the leading supplier of knowledge management and project management software solutions when Systemcorp was purchased by IBM. Before this, he served as a principal and one of the leaders in the Process Innovation Group at Ernst & Young; he retired from Ernst & Young when it was purchased by Cap Gemini. Dr. Harrington joined Ernst & Young when Ernst & Young purchased Harrington, Hurd & Rieker, a consulting firm that he started. Before that, he was with IBM for over 40 years as a senior engineer and project manager.

Dr. Harrington is the past chairman and past president of the prestigious International Academy for Quality and of the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC). He is also an active member of the Global Knowledge Economics Council.

H. James Harrington was elected to the honorary level of the International Academy for Quality, which is the highest level of recognition in the quality profession. Dr. Harrington is a government-registered quality engineer, a certified quality and reliability engineer by the ASQC, and a per