Lean Looks

4 must-read Lean books for every credit union leader

For years, the name Toyota has been synonymous with words like value, quality, productivity and profitability. Much of Toyota’s success is attributed to its management philosophy and practices, widely and simply referred to as “Lean.”

Over the past two years, First West has adopted Lean thinking in its business efforts—and the results are paying off.  For us, lean thinking is all about how we can add value for our members and customers. It also guides how we develop our team members and embrace change. Much has been published on the topic of Lean—here’s a list of our current favourite Lean books and why you should check them out.

Lean for Dummies (Natalie J. Sayer and Bruce Williams)
An excellent introduction for a new Lean practitioner. In true Dummies fashion, this is an accessible, fun, and quick jump into Lean. You’ll learn where it came from, the basics, the tools, principles, behaviours and more.

The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the World’s Greatest Manufacturer (Jeffrey K. Liker)
Liker has published several books on Lean and the Toyota Production System. The Toyota Way is a fundamental Lean resource for learning how Lean principles are applied in everyday practice at Toyota in Japan and North America. The case studies shared are current and relevant to how to effectively deploy Lean in your organization.

Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way (Jeffrey K. Liker and Michael Hoseus)
Lean was developed at Toyota, so what better way to get an introduction to the methodology than learning what everyday looks like at the birthplace of Lean. Toyota Culture will help you understand why success with Lean begins not with process or policy, but with people.

The Remedy: Bringing Lean Thinking out of the Factory to Transform the Entire Organization (Pascal Dennis)
Written as a narrative, The Remedy is a follow-up to Dennis’ award-winning Andy & Me: Crisis and Transformation on the Lean Journey. The sequel lays out Lean methodology within a story, with characters, plot and action that will ring true for any seasoned business person with a passion for change and continuous improvement.
 

Learn more about Lean at First West in our video section.

Interested in learning more about First West, our unique credit union model, or our Lean practices? Email us at communications@firstwestcu.ca.