The idea that a very large company can constantly improve their quality and productivity while maintaining focus on customer value is a compelling one. I'm guessing that a company managed in this Lean way is also a good one to work for, and may serve as a counter example to PG's assessment that working in a traditionally structured top-down corporation is mind-numbing, which is true. In a Lean company the best ideas win, while in the top-down company politics wins. The Lean company manages the system, not the people.
Toyota has demonstrated the efficacy of a new paradigm in management - they use Lean for all functions including engineering, design, finance, production. The big news for us small companies is that the same techniques can be used at any scale with the same positive results, as has been happening at my architecture firm and startup.
Toyota has demonstrated the efficacy of a new paradigm in management - they use Lean for all functions including engineering, design, finance, production. The big news for us small companies is that the same techniques can be used at any scale with the same positive results, as has been happening at my architecture firm and startup.