The Modern Lean Enterprise: From Mass Customisation to Personalisation

The book discusses a modern reorientation of Lean, focusing on achieving indirect efficiency in a continuous and sustainable manner. It emphasizes that value and waste are not antithetical but not comparable issues. Complementarity by design is a key concept for modern Lean companies to transition into the digital era and Industry 4.0, as it helps them achieve more with less effort. Technology is the key to this transition.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 285 pages
Publication date: 22 January 2023
Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG

The book delves into a contemporary reorientation of Lean, departing from the traditional waste dogma that solely focuses on immediate efficiency gains and replacing it with a strategy aimed at achieving indirect efficiency in a continuous and sustainable manner. Waste represents the end result of a process that has no further utility, whereas value is a matter of valuation, a process whose output is believed to have additional value. It's important to note that value and waste are not inherently opposing concepts; rather, they are distinct issues that require different approaches. By leveraging synergies, modern Lean enterprises can unlock added value that brings sustainable economic benefits to the company. These synergies draw upon the complementarity theory developed by Milgrom and Roberts in 1990, which emphasizes the maximization of gains through joint investment in complement activities rather than separate investment. Complementarity is not exclusive to Lean enterprises; however, Lean enterprises stand to benefit the most from this concept. The reason lies in the fundamental principle of Lean, which advocates for achieving more with less effort. Less effort does not entail the use of fewer resources but rather the strategic utilization of resources in a complementary manner to achieve greater outcomes. Complementarity is a deliberate design feature that empowers modern Lean companies to navigate the digital era and the emerging world of Industry 4.0 with greater ease.

In this revised and expanded second edition, we have retained the methodology for achieving Lean while incorporating enhancements to demonstrate how to transition towards modern Lean within the Industry 4.0 paradigm. However, it's worth noting that companies that have not yet taken the Lean step can still reap the benefits by leveraging technology. Modern Lean enterprises emerge from the old paradigm and embrace the new one of Industry 4.0, resulting in optimal performance. This evolution is driven by the forces of change and adaptation, leading to a thriving and resilient enterprise.

Weight: 466g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783662644782
Edition number: 2nd ed. 2022