Lean is a comprehensive, integral system consisting of four interdependent elements: leadership, culture, team, and practices and tools. This book examines these elements following a systematic, hierarchical orientation and explains their relevance for guiding lean initiatives. It begins with the identification and establishment of strategic goals, followed with strategy development, and lastly tactical choices. This model framework is cognizant of a firm's relative internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external opportunities and threats.

Each of the four integral lean system...