Robert Baird

If you examine the characteristics of successful organizations, you will find that speed is a common denominator. Once there is a focus on speed, industry-leading improvements follow, momentum is created, and employees become further engaged to continue executing the strategy.The Four Components of a Fast-Paced Organization: Going Beyond Lean Sigma Tools examines the components that must be in place for manufacturing and service organizations to achieve world-class business results at a rapid pace: leadership and mentoring, process design and visual value streams, organization structure for sustainment, and fast knowledge sharing.The book illustrates the author’s experience working on a special Lean Sigma transformation at an organization going through a market alteration and having to consider outsourcing production to low-cost countries. It describes how the four key components helped the company achieve a doubling of productivity, a 75% improvement to its yield, and on-time delivery above 90%.Outlining a simple, yet effective, implementation plan, the book supplies valuable guidance for Lean practitioners and organizational leaders on what needs to be done after Lean Sigma. It presents only the necessary information to allow you to dive right in to proven methods without having to waste time sorting through unnecessary details.We all want a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and customer orientation; and this is what the four components can help you achieve. Follow the implementation steps outlined in the text and you will be on your way to developing and refining these characteristics.