Lean Thinking (NL)

The foundation of Lean. The book that started the global Lean movement.

By Jim Womack and Dan Jones: the men who brought Lean to the world after their groundbreaking MIT research at Toyota.

Why this book is still indispensable

Lean Thinking first introduced the core concepts that are now standard in every Lean organization. Nearly 30 years later, this remains a surprisingly powerful foundational text, not because it is historical, but because it lays foundations that other books take for granted.

What you are reading here for the first time:

• The 5 core principles of Lean (value, value stream, flow, pull, perfection)
• The 3 crucial management tasks of every organization
• 5 criteria for assessing Lean processes (beyond traditional 'efficiency')
• Why Toyota performs so differently from other car manufacturers

What this book covers:

Part 1: The Fundamentals
The core ideas that define Lean. This part alone makes the book worthwhile—it lays the foundation for everything that comes after in the Lean world.

Part 2: Lean outside Toyota
How Lean works in companies that look completely different from a car factory. From service provision to production, Womack and Jones show that the principles are universally applicable.

Part 3: Your Lean transformation
Practical guidance for designing a Lean transformation in your own organization. From strategy to implementation.

Part 4: Reflection and outlook ( added in 2nd edition)
The authors look back on the Lean revolution and ahead to what remains to be gained. Written with the wisdom of decades of experience.

Who is this book for?

• Anyone who wants to understand Lean from the basics
• Managers considering a transformation
• Lean professionals who want to know where it all comes from
• Teams seeking a common language and foundation

Even if you have been working with Lean for years, this book is still valuable. Many concepts that now seem like common sense are given their original context and depth here. That insight makes you a better Lean practitioner.

About the authors

Jim Womack and Dan Jones conducted groundbreaking MIT research that revealed the differences between Toyota and Western car manufacturers. Their first book described the differences in performance. This second book goes deeper: the underlying principles, the characteristics, and how Lean works outside the automotive industry.

If you only read one book about Lean, read this one.

Additional Information