Summary: <br> As Dr. Balle said, “Toyota didn't become number one by having lower manufacturing costs, they became number one by making cars people bought.” <br> <br> Dr. Michael Ballé is a business researcher and consultant and has studied lean transformation for the past 15 years. He is Associate Researcher at Télécom ParisTech and the co-founder of the French Lean Institute (<a href="http://www.institut-lean-france.fr">www.institut-lean-france.fr</a>) and the Projet Lean Enterprise (<a href="http://www.lean.enst.fr">www.lean.enst.fr</a>). He coaches CEOs and senior executives in using lean to radically improve their businesses' performances and establish lean cultures. <br> <br> Dr. Balle was my guest on the podcast and we discussed the new audio release of his Shingo Prize wining book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0974322563?ie=UTF8&tag=business901-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0974322563">The Gold Mine: A Novel of Lean Turnaround</a>. The audio version, like the original book, presents all the key lean principles, ranging from well-known ideas such as pull and flow, to lesser-known yet equally important principles such as jidoka and heijunka. It also reveals lean as a system—using a realistic business story that is both compelling and instructive to show how lean principles are interrelated. <br> <br> We spent about 10 minutes talking about the book and than dove off into the subject of a Lean Enterprise from boardroom to shop floor. The last half of the podcast ventured outside the walls of manufacturing and into the less discussed areas of Toyota, sales and marketing. <br> <br> Audio Version: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0976315297?ie=UTF8&tag=business901-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0976315297">Gold Mine: A Novel of Lean Turnaround</a> <br> <br> The audiobook features performances by multiple readers who bring its realistic business story and characters to life. You’ll hear from: <br> <br> Bob Woods, the curmudgeonly lean sensei; <br> Mike Woods, Bob’s son who talks his father out of retirement to help Phil; <br> Phil Jenkinson, the friend and struggling entrepreneur; <br> Amy Cruz, Phil's HR manager; <br> Plus, the managers and employees at Phil’s company <br> <br> Related Information: <br> <br> <a href="http://www.lean.org/balle">Dr. Michael Balle is the Gemba Coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute</a> <br> <br> <a href="http://business901.com/blog1/lean-thinking-perspectives-from-dr-michael-balle/">Lean Thinking Perspectives from Dr. Michael Balle</a> <br> <br> <a href="http://business901.com/blog1/lean-coaching-learning-with-jeff-liker/">Lean Coaching & Learning with Jeff Liker</a> <br> <br> <a href="http://www.business901.com/blog1/developing-a-kaizen-spirit/">Developing a Kaizen Spirit</a> <br> <br> <a href="http://business901.com/blog1/developing-a-kaizen-conscious-with-shingo-prize-winner-michael-balle/">Developing a Kaizen Conscious with Shingo Prize winner Michael Balle</a>
