Creating Lean Dealers (EN)

How do you build a dealership that truly adds value for the customer while eliminating waste in day-to-day operations?

In the automotive sector, margins are under constant pressure and customer expectations are changing faster than ever. Many dealers struggle with inefficient workshop processes, a sluggish sales organization, and excess inventory. In *Creating Lean Dealers*, David Brunt and John Kiff demonstrate that the solution does not lie in working harder, but in fundamentally reorganizing the value stream.

This workbook is not a theoretical treatise, but a practical guide written specifically for owners, directors, and managers of dealerships. It translates the powerful principles of Lean Management into the challenging realities of the showroom and service department.

What will you learn in *Creating Lean Dealers*?
Most Lean literature focuses on manufacturing environments. Creating Lean Dealers fills the gap for the retail and service side of the automotive industry. Brunt and Kiff, both experts with years of experience within the Lean Enterprise Academy network, offer a step-by-step method to:

• Focusing on customer value: Understanding what car buyers or service customers truly need.

• Mapping the value stream: Identifying where delays and errors occur in the process from sales to delivery and maintenance.

• Creating flow: Optimizing turnaround time in the workshop so that capacity utilization increases while customer wait times decrease.

• Building a culture of continuous improvement: Empowering frontline employees to independently resolve minor issues on a daily basis.

Why should I read *Creating Lean Dealers*?
Creating Lean Dealers provides the tools, diagrams, and questions needed to start the transformation from a traditional dealership to a Lean business today.

Who is *Creating Lean Dealers* intended for?
This workbook is essential for anyone responsible for the bottom line of a dealership or auto business:

• Dealer managers and executives who strive for healthy profitability and high customer satisfaction.

• Service and After-Sales Managers who want to increase workshop efficiency without hiring additional staff.

• Lean facilitators and consultants working in the automotive retail sector.

Additional Information

About the authors

David Brunt is the CEO of the Lean Enterprise Academy (UK). He has decades of experience applying Lean principles across various industries, but his roots lie deeply in the automotive industry. He has worked for companies including Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and BMW. David is known for his ability to translate complex Lean theories into practical actions on the shop floor.

John Kiff is a senior coach and specialist in Lean practices within the automotive sector. Before joining the Lean Enterprise Academy, he gained extensive experience working with major dealership groups and manufacturers. He has led numerous transformations, always with a focus on improving the customer experience by eliminating operational inefficiencies.