Author: Clifford Fiore
Publisher: ASQ Quality Press
ISBN: 0-87389-604-1

The following review was contributed by: S.V. SWAMY:  CLICK TO VIEW S.V. Swamy's Reviews

"Lean Strategies for Product Development" is a small,
beautifully printed soft-cover paperback that you
could pick up and read while waiting for your flight
in the airport and may be finish by the time you reach
your destination after about an hour. However, you may
need
to reread it a couple of times to really appreciate
and fully absorb the important concepts presented
therein. In 11 chapters spread over just 62 pages,
Cliff succeeds in presenting lucidly some very
important concepts and methodologies for faster and
better product development. These are aptly called
Lean Strategies since they tend to make the
organization lean by reducing flab and wastage of
resources. An analogy that comes to mind is how a
small torpedo boat is much more nimble when compared
to a bulky aircraft carrier, or how a lean and fit man
can outrun and outmanouver a flabby, overweight
opponent in boxing. The need for faster, leaner
product development teams that can come up with smart
and cost-effective designs to withstand intense
competition is very well brought out.

The book resembles the well-known business novel "The
Goal" in style, though the story line is not as strong
as that book. The tone is quite conversational and
most of the time, the text is easy to follow. The
examples are quite meaningful and with only a little
rereading, it is possible for the strategy to be
understood.

In addition to the 11 chapters, the book has
appendices including a Glossary, Product Development
Approach Summary, Examples of Waste, Value Stream Map
Examples, Common Product Development Problems, Product
Development Maturity Path, References and at the very
end, a very useful index.

I especially liked the chapters on Modular design,
Platform Design and The Lean and Six Sigma Connection.
I also liked Cliff's emphasis on the imperative need
to capture knowledge (Knowledge Management if you
prefer). I feel many of the existing organizations,
even large ones, neglect this area. As Ken Hawkins,
the Project Engineer of Donetics in the book rightly
remarks, knowledge goes into a black-hole, never to
come out again!

As an editor, I found a few places where I felt that
the text could have been edited better. But in
general, there is no difficulty in understanding the
message.

All in all, I have no hesitation in recommending this
book to individuals, organizations and libraries.