Recommended Reading List
Compiled by John Compton, Jim Workman, and the Continuous Improvement Advisory Committee
This list is comprised of books that one or more of the above individuals have found particularly useful as they’ve educated themselves about continuous improvement (CI) and lean leadership, strategies, and execution. Since this list contains only 25 out of hundreds of books written on CI and lean topics, we recognize that other books may be valuable to you, as well.
Clarity First, Karen Martin, McGraw-Hill Education, 2018, 320 pages, hardback/eBook.
Creating a Lean Culture: Tools to Sustain Lean Conversions, 3rd Ed., David Mann, Productivity Press, 2014, 408 pages, paperback/eBook.
Four Types of Problems: From Reactive Troubleshooting to Creative Innovation, Art Smalley, Lean Enterprise Institute, 2018, 192 pages, hardback.
Gemba Kaizen: A Commonsense Approach to a Continuous Improvement Strategy, 2nd Ed., Masaaki Imai, McGraw-Hill, 2013, 448 pages, hardcover/eBook.
Gemba Walks, 2nd Ed., James P. Womack, Lean Enterprise Institute, 2013, 311 pages, paperback/eBook/audio.
Getting the Right Things Done: A Leader’s Guide to Planning and Execution, Pascal Dennis, Lean Enterprise Institute, 2006, 232 pages, paperback.
How to Do a Gemba Walk: Take a Gemba Walk to Improve Your Leadership Skills, Michael S. Bremer, CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 2016, 134 pages, paperback/eBook.
The Idea-Driven Organization: Unlocking the Power in Bottom-Up Ideas, Alan G. Robinson and Dean M. Schroeder, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2014, 216 pages, hardcover/eBook/audio.
Lead With Respect: A Novel of Lean Practice, Michael Ballé and Freddy Ballé, Lean Enterprise Institute, 2014, 219 pages, paperback/eBook.
Leading the Lean Enterprise Transformation, 2nd Ed., George Koenigsaecker, Productivity Press, 2012, 264 pages, hardcover/eBook.
Lean Printing: Pathway to Success, Kevin Cooper, Malcolm G. Keif, and Kenneth L. Macro, Jr.. Printing Industries Press, 2007, 140 pages, paperback.
Lean Printing: Cultural Imperatives for Success, Kevin Cooper, Printing Industries Press, 2014, 140 pages, paperback.
Lean Production Simplified: A Plain-Language Guide to the World’s Most Powerful Production System, 3rd Ed., Pascal Dennis, Productivity Press, 2015, 249 pages, paperback/eBook.
The Lean Turnaround: How Business Leaders Use Lean Principles to Create Value and Transform Their Company, Art Byrne, McGraw-Hill, 2012, 224 pages, hardcover/eBook.
The Lean Turnaround Action Guide: How to Implement Lean, Create Value and Grow Your People, Art Byrne, McGraw-Hill, 2016, 240 pages, paperback/eBook.
Managing to Learn: Using the A3 Management Process, John Shook, Lean Enterprise Institute, 2008, 138 pages, paperback.
The Outstanding Organization: Generate Business Results by Eliminating Chaos and Building the Foundation for Everyday Excellence, Karen Martin, McGraw-Hill, 2012, 240 pages, hardcover/eBook.
Setup Reduction for Printers: A Practical Guide for Reducing Makeready Time in Print Manufacturing, Kevin Cooper and Malcolm G. Keif, self-published (available through Printing Industries Press), 2011, 131 pages, paperback.
Toyota Culture: The Heart and Soul of the Toyota Way, Jeffrey K. Liker and Michael Hoseus, McGraw Hill, 2008, 562 pages, hardcover/eBook.
The Toyota Engagement Equation, Tracey and Ernie Richardson, McGraw-Hill Education, 2017, 272 pages, hardback/paperback/eBook.
Toyota Kata: Managing People for Improvement, Adaptiveness, and Superior Results, Mike Rother, McGraw Hill, 2010, 306 pages, hardcover/eBook.
Toyota Kata Culture, Mike Rother and Gerd Aulinger, McGraw-Hill, 2017, 154 pages, paperback (spiral bound).
The Toyota Kata Practice Guide: Practicing Scientific Thinking Skills for Superior Results in 20 Minutes a Day, Mike Rother, McGraw-Hill Education, 2017, 320 pages, paperback/eBook.
The Toyota Way: 14 Management Principles from the Worlds’ Greatest Manufacturer, 2nd Edition, Jeffrey K. Liker, McGraw-Hill, 2021, 411 pages, hardcover/eBook.
The Toyota Way to Lean Leadership: Achieving and Sustaining Excellence through Leadership Development, Jeffrey K. Liker and Gary L. Convis, McGraw-Hill, 2011, 320 pages, hardcover/eBook.
2 Second Lean: How to Grow People and Build a Fun Lean Culture at Work & at Home, 3rd Ed., Paul A. Akers, FastCap Press, 2014, 156 pages, paperback/eBook.
The Work of Management: A Daily Path to Sustainable Improvement, Jim Lancaster, Lean Enterprise Institute, 2017, 171 pages, hardback/eBook.