2 Second Lean - 3rd Edition: How to Grow People and Build a Fun Lean Culture

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Ten years ago I began my Lean journey. I had never even heard the word before, but what happened was nothing short of astounding. My wife and I started our company, FastCap, in our garage in 1997. FastCap is a product development company that specializes in producing innovative tools and hardware for cabinetmakers and builders. Why woodworking products? Because I’m a passionate craftsman who lives and breathes for the opportunity to massage a piece of Honduras Mahogany. Title is for identification purposes only and does not imply an endorsement by the Attorney General’s Office or the State of Washington.

as all the experts and textbooks make it out to be. In fact, as you learn to incorporate a Lean approach to your life, you will see that the more Lean thinking you have in your life, the more you will enjoy life.” ~ Paul A. Akers His reluctance was unnerving. He said, Well, I don’t know. I said, Well, what do you think my problem is? He paused, looked around the shop floor and said, Do you want to know the truth?

Paul Akers has a passion for Lean that is totally infectious. FastCap continues on their Lean journey to continuously improve. Their approach to engaging employees for their ideas is World Class and it shows with everything Paul and his team do. You can apply this book anywhere, but harried moms might be the first group I would recommend it to. Applying it to home life was eye-opening for me. Essentially, on a daily basis, find what bugs you and do something about it (that something is discussed at length in the book). Not complicated, but it does take discipline.

Honesty is the best policy, and I plan to be honest. This was not my favorite read. Sure, the lessons were good, but the message came off sort of like it was for first time employees of the company rather than a help book. Having to get all the way to the end before LEAN was broken down for us was sort of frustrating. However, this doesn’t mean the lessons learned along the way were hopeless. To be lean is to eliminate what bugs you, going one at a time, and standing on it’s two foundational principles: eliminating waste and continuous improvement. Learn how to operate with the maximum efficiency while creating a productive and positive environment in all that you do. The excellent examples and analysis in this book are a great primer for anyone seeking successful growth.Our second product was a laser-positioning tool called the Laserjamb. I had invented these products when I was a cabinetmaker. I figured out a way to manufacture and sell them to a market I was an expert in. (As an aside, my next book will be How to Invent and Sell Your Genius.) Once you've been inspired by Paul Akers' story and experience on Lean, you are now able to learn Lean in a more academic way, and some more structured tools to use later on on your workplace.