The Lean Machine - by Dantar P Oosterwal (Paperback)

About the Book

The most iconic brands stay on top because they know how to evolve to appeal to their market. Discover the Knowledge-Based Product Development system that has fueled the sustained growth of American motorcycle company Harley-Davidson--and how you can achieve the same long-lasting success.

Book Synopsis

In this insider guide, former Harley-Davidson executive Dantar Oosterwal offers an exclusive look at how Harley-Davidson was able to adapt in an ever-changing world to stay on top and stay in existence.

From near-extinction in the early eighties, Harley-Davidson rose to worldwide recognition and is still today one of the great, iconic American motorcycle brands. In this insider guide, former Harley-Davidson executive Dantar Oosterwal offers an exclusive look at how Harley-Davidson was able to adapt in an ever-changing world to stay on top and stay in existence

In The Lean Machine, you will learn about their secret weapon and go-to formula for outstanding success as well as:

• the day-to-day transformation at Harley-Davidson
• their adapted Knowledge-Based Product Development
• identifies universal change and improvement issues so that any company can incorporate this

Rooted in Japanese productivity improvement techniques, the Knowledge-Based Product Development method helped Harley realize an unprecedented fourfold increase in throughput in half the time--powering annual growth of more than ten percent.

The Lean Machine is part business journal, part analysis, and part step-by-step toolkit that will help companies in all industries achieve predictably excellent results.

From the Back Cover

"With a fresh American approach, based on the iconic giant, Harley Davidson, Dantar Oosterwal makes the whole new concept of lean new product design and development clear and doable. If new product design is the last frontier for competitive companies, "The Lean Machine" is the guidebook you will want to take with you on the journey." -- Patricia E. Moody, "Fortune" magazine, "Manufacturing Hero"; and author of "The Big Squeeze," "Powered by Honda," and "The Incredible Payback" From near-extinction in the early eighties, the Harley-Davidson Company has risen to worldwide recognition for management excellence and innovation, and is a standout leader in the realm of product development. Part personal business journal, part big-picture analysis, and part step-by-step toolkit, "The Lean Machine" examines the groundbreaking application of lean manufacturing principles to product development at Harley-Davidson--a breakthrough that resulted in more products, faster cycles, and better quality, and that powered annual growth of more than 10 percent. Packed with little-known details about how the company came to reinvent the way it designs new products, and a broad overview of the fertile corporate climate that made it possible, "The Lean Machine" uncovers the power of Knowledge-Based Product Development to achieve predictable, positive results, without having to continually fix late-breaking problems and full-blown crises. It's a formula for outstanding success that can be replicated or adapted to fit your own company's needs.

Review Quotes

..".valuable insights for people interested in understanding how systematic problem solving applies to the kinds of problems that product development managers need to solve..." "-- Journal of Product Innovation Management"

."..valuable insights for people interested in understanding how systematic problem solving applies to the kinds of problems that product development managers need to solve..." "-- Journal of Product Innovation Management"

""The Lean Machine" serves best as a set of tips for the project manager, but executives can also benefit from Oosterwal's wisdom when they are trying to build a top-performing team of product developers or engineers." --"Houston Business Journal"

"[Oosterwal] gives business leaders insight on supporting innovation and shows them how their companies can consistently excel at developing innovative and profitable products and still keep employees motivated, energized and always learning." --"Biztimes Milwaukee"

"The author uses a friendly, conversational approach....The lessons provided are universal and helpful for any company needing a resurgence." --"APICS Magazine"

About the Author

DANTAR P. OOSTERWAL has led global innovation improvements as Vice President of Innovation at Sara Lee, as well as Director of Product Development at Harley-Davidson.