PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR LEAN SUCCESS, IT SYSTEM MUST FULLY SUPPORT INITIATIVE

NEW YORK… As the interest in Lean Business Strategy continues to grow, more companies and executives need help determining what areas will directly affect the initiative. Most start in the manufacturing area, but soon find that as they change their manufacturing processes, other business functions, such as information processing, cannot adequately support the improvement tactics. As the level of interest in "lean accounting" substantially grows, information technology (IT) is another function requiring a transformation. For a company to sustain lean, it must implement IT systems that fully support and enhance its lean initiative.

Now, Productivity Press' new book, Easier, Simpler, Faster - - Systems Strategy for Lean IT, addresses the requirements of IT to sustain a successful Lean Business Strategy. The book chronicles the actual transformation of IT at a small U.S. manufacturer, Lantech, during its lean implementaion.

In fact, in their seminal book, Lean Thinking (1996), James Womack and Daniel T. Jones highlight Lantech's lean efforts as a simple case study, stating, "Lantech is a striking example of what happens when a small American firm makes the value stream flow smoothly as pulled by the customer in pursuit of perfection." Cunningham and Jones decided to write, Easier, Simpler, Faster to share Lantech's IT success story, to demonstrate what makes IT change lean, why this is so important in a lean environment and the changes they think companies must make in particular areas to align IT to lean.

This book explains:

• What a company should do in regard to information systems as it implements lean.
  
• The changes that will be required in the information system to make it a partner with, rather than a barrier to, a company becoming a lean manufacturer and ultimately a lean enterprise.
  
• The opportunities that will arise for the information systems team to eliminate waste and apply lean principles in its own operations.

CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, the Lean or Continuous Improvement Team and manufacturing and materials management will find Easier, Simpler, Faster an invaluable read, as will their associated staffs. Consultants and the academic community will also find this book of great interest.

About the Authors
Currently an independent consultant, Jean Cunningham's background includes 13 years at Lantech, as CFO and VP of Company Services, where she was responsible for corporate services, HR, accounting, information systems, telecom, facility and many of the company's continuous improvement activities until 1999. In 2003, she co-authored with Orest Fiume, Real Numbers, which won the 2004 Shingo Prize.

Duane Jones is Director of IT at Lantech. He has also held many positions at the company, including material handler, engineering change coordinator and production coordinator.

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. In February, 2007, Productivity Press launched its new healthcare division, Healthcare Performance Press (www.HCPpress.com).

For more information on 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

Easier, Simpler, Faster - - Systems Strategy for Lean IT

By Jean Cunningham and Duane Jones

"For too long, IT systems have indirectly functioned as a barrier to lean initiatives -- This book breaks new ground because the authors fully illustrate just how IT can significantly hasten waste reduction."

--Anand Sharma
President & CEO
TBM Consulting Group, Inc.

"Jones and Cunningham's first-hand experience with lean IS transformation is distilled into a pragmatic set of guidelines that will fortify your roadmap for remarkable change."

--Jamie Flinchbaugh
Co-author, The Hitchhiker's Guide to Lean
Co-founder, The Lean Learning Center

"This book deserves a detailed read and discussion within any organization planning a lean transformation. Jean and Duane have accurately and sensitively captured their struggles, frustrations, and victories around the previously submerged and invisible IT portion of the lean iceberg. They modestly make it seem so easy to drive on principles in the face of partisan forces. I was tempted to add yellow highlights several times to emphasize the importance of subtle but powerful choices the team made."

--Pat Lancaster
Chairman
Lantech.com