Lean Transformations for Small and Medium Enterprises: Lessons Learned from Italian Businesses

Summarizes two decades of research, teaching, and practice on lean thinking.

Based on quantitative analysis of 100 cases of Lean transformations and 20 in-depth case studies of successfully transformed SMEs, it explains how to undertake lean transformations that lead to operational and financial performance improvement, and uses the Lean Transformation Framework --conceptualized by John Shook at the Lean Enterprise Institute—as a practical approach to design and de-risk the transformation process.

SMEs’ leaders wishing to undertake and sustain a lean transformation must:

• Make a serious and lasting commitment to transform, avoiding the temptation to change course of action;

• Choose accurately the value streams that require improvement as defined by strategy deployment;

• Build capabilities to sustain the transformation;

• Lead by example by going to gemba and creating a culture of respect for people that goes beyond the visible devices and artifacts of Lean tools.