This book is about the Lean system. It begins by describing the reasons why so many Lean implementations fail and explaining why managers need to focus their valuable time on early adopters rather than on trying to convert resistors. The book describes the guiding principles of the Shingo process for continuous improvement layout and evaluation. It examines the principles, systems, and tools of continuous improvement and demonstrates how to deploy these proven methods in plants and distribution centers. It also examines Lean performance measures and introduces a comprehensive Lean tool assessment system.