PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AWARD-WINNING AUTHORS' BOOK ESSENTIAL FOR

MOVING WORKFORCE FROM MASS PRODUCTION TO LEAN

NEW YORK… Changing from a mass-manufacturing environment to a lean environment is significant. It is a change that will ultimately affect all levels of a company. If the implementation is done correctly, the results can be outstanding. Many times, however, lean implementers become so involved with the nuts and bolts of lean implementation that the "people" side of the business in neglected. Yet, it is the people that are critical to the change.

In Developing a Lean Workforce -- A Guide for Human Resources, Plant Managers and Lean Coordinators, authors Chris Harris and Rick Harris walk the reader through a simple, step-by-step guide for taking a mass production workforce -- consisting of production associates, team leaders and area supervisors -- and turning it into a lean production, frontline work force with the necessary skills, training and attitude to effectively plan, do, reflect and adjust, as an organization's operations move steadily ahead.

Developing a Lean Workforce assists the reader in changing the way his or her facility looks at its people. It provides the building blocks of a Human Resources development system, but it also asks the reader to examine the unique characteristics of their company. As the reader progresses through the book, they will be asked to consider ideas for making the most of the people in their facility.

Developing a Lean Workforce follows the lean journey of Rudrey Manufacturing, a company that found itself in the same position as other companies embarking on the transition to lean: learning to continually improve processes and planning to utilize employees to accomplish this task. This book outlines Rudrey's journey to developing a lean-thinking workforce.

This book:

• Explains the current state of Human Resources in the facility and shows that a systematic method of training is needed to develop those resources into a lean-thinking workforce.
  
• Provides the reader with sample training sessions and explanations that they can use in training and involving their employees right now.
  
• Identifies two major Human Resources policy practices that benefit facilities tremendously: Continuously training associates, whether they're newly hired or getting trained in new areas within the facility; and effectively promoting employees from within the facility to team leader and group leader positions.

About the Authors
Chris Harris first learned about lean manufacturing as a team member on the assembly line at Toyota Manufacturing Kentucky (TMMK) and continued his lean training at Toyota Tsusho America, Georgetown Kentucky. Chris co-authored the 2005 Shingo Prize-winning book, Making Materials Flow, and is currently Vice President of Operations at Harris Lean Systems.

Rick Harris has co-authored two Shingo Prize-winning books, Creating Continuous Flow and Making Materials Flow. Before he was a member of the startup team at Toyota Manufacturing Kentucky where he gained extensive knowledge of the Toyota Production System, Rick spent 15 years with General Motors. He is currently President of Harris Lean Systems, a company with lean practitioners in over 190 facilities throughout the world, assisting over 50 different companies implement lean production systems.

About Productivity Press:
Productivity Press is the premier source of authoritative information on organizational improvement, offering the broadest selection of books and learning tools about lean methodologies, based on the Toyota Production System. Whether you are responsible for production, office and administrative operations or providing services, our publications offer you proven, practical strategies for increasing efficiency and capacity while eliminating waste. We are the leading source of materials for educating and training your workforce in lean.

List price is $45.00. Complimentary review copies are available to media contacts by calling (212) 216-7865 or by e-mailing: leon.carter@taylorandfrancis.com.

For more information on Developing a Lean Workforce or any of Productivity Press' other titles, call 1 (888) 319-5852 or access our online catalog at www.productivitypress.com.

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ADVANCE PRAISE FOR

Developing a Lean Workforce - - A Guide for Human Resources, Plant Managers, and Lean Coordinators

By Chris Harris and Rick Harris

"Practical tools and insights for companies as they begin their Lean transformation are hard to come by. Chris and Rick Harris' book does just that. It's based on real world experience and filled with 'lessons learned' that can help companies avoid the common mistakes that trip so many up as they begin taking the first steps on their Lean journey."

--Kathryn A. Miller
Vice President, Lean Enterprise & Quality Parker Hannifin Corporation

"Chris and Rick Harris have simply and clearly cataloged the key human elements of deploying lean. We have followed their practical implementation advice for several years. This book, like all their advice, is directly to the point. Their chapters convincingly reinforce that, '... Lean Manufacturing is about implementing productive and efficient systems, not just a lot of random tools.' I found the chapters on creating flexible workforces and developing group leaders particularly useful. Developing a Lean Workforce will be used as standard lean training in my company."

--Steve Gudgel
Vice President, Operations
Remy Electrical Aftermarket

"This book fills a void in the lean literature by addressing the preparation, change in thinking and training required to manage a work force through a lean transformation. Though much material is available dealing with the physical rearrangement of equipment and materials for a lean flow, good references for managing the people issues are hard to find. Included in the text are simple but effective lean training exercises for both the office and shop floor audiences. I believe this book should be required reading for Human Resource Managers in organizations implementing lean systems."

--David Saylor
Managing Director of Manufacturing
Masco Builder Cabinet Group