Ten publications will receive the 2006 Shingo Research Prize, which recognizes researchers throughout the world who promote new knowledge and understanding of manufacturing and business-improvement methods, systems and processes. The research award will be given at the 18thAnnual Shingo Prize Conference and Awards Ceremony, which happens April 3–7 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky.

The winners include two novels and six books addressing culture, visual workplaces, training, leadership and producer-consumer processes. There’s also a prize-winning article that addresses lean health care and a winning training video that highlights seven wastes commonly found in administrative offices and manufacturing processes.

“The quality of the applications for lean research recognition was the best ever for 2006,” says Ross Robson, Shingo Prize executive director. “The largest number of Shingo Research prizes ever indicates the interest and demand for lean management materials is growing.”

The prize-winning books are:

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