Of the 100 companies named to Fortune magazine’s list of the world’s largest companies in 1956, only 29 of them remain on that list today. Many lost their way because they failed to recognize the changes taking place, or were too big to react quickly enough to shifting market conditions.

Supplying lean practitioners with a formal process for keeping up with technological advancements and shifting business requirements, The Future of Lean Sigma Thinking in a Changing Business Environment, by David Rogers (Productivity Press, 2011) provides the tools to not only survive, but also prosper through the current business environment. This book introduces cutting-edge business solutions from the fields of chemical engineering, aircraft production, and business psychology, and explains how to integrate these concepts with proven lean principles.

The Future of Lean Sigma Thinking begins by providing a foundation in essential lean concepts, including the teachings of W. Edwards Deming and Joseph M. Juran, Six Sigma, total quality management (TQM), the Toyota Production System, and new Six Sigma. Next, it reports on the latest advances in process understanding.

 …