Lean Production transformed the way that companies think about production and manufacturing. This book provides a new challenge. It arises from the work of the Lean Aerospace Initiative at MIT and provides a new agenda and bold vision for the aerospace industry to take it out of crisis. It also redefines and develops the concept of Lean as a framework for enterprise transformation and this will be relevant and critical for all industries and enterprises.

'The book is an easy and pleasant paced one to read which can be usefully examined by anyone with a particular interest in the aerospace industry, or someone who is interested in further refinements of the lean production notion...to have produced such an interesting and coherent story, an initiative of this scale is no mean accomplishment. The individuals who have been largely responsible for this task deserve both credit and thanks.' - Phillip Beaumont, European Management Journal

'For those in the aerospace industry or similar fields, or businesses wanting to implement lean production, this book will provide a valuable lesson and interesting reading. It is not fluffed out with pointless information and everything that is in it needs to be there and will be at least useful when turning to lean production.' - Emily Duncan, M2 Best Books

'I have never seen as comprehensive a summary of relevant historic, economic and strategic developments characterizing this industry...The many good case studies, excellent recounts of successful projects and other islands of success, provide valuable insights as to how the approach can work...the book is very well written, extremely well made up and has many good graphics, side-notes, and tons of useful references! A highly attractive book to read and a strong even though complex message! In my view it is mandatory reading for any aerospace leader and those in other industrial sectors, whether part of top management, the engineering, human resources or financial services cadres.' - Professor Heinz Stoewer, International Council of Systems Engineering President (elect), Insight

'...a well-structured and well-written account of US aerospace in the increasingly popular area of lean philosophy.' - The Aerospace Professional

Prologue
PART I: HIGHER, FASTER, FARTHER
The 21st Century Challenge
The Cold War Legacy
Monuments and Misalignments
PART II: BETTER, FASTER, CHEAPER?
Lean Thinking
Islands of Success
Lean Enterprises
PART III: CREATING ENTERPRISE VALUE
A Value Creation Framework
Program Value
Corporate and Government Value
National and International Value
Future Value: A US Aerospace Perspective

The author team form the Lean Aerospace Initiative based at MIT and contain a number or outstanding academics and researchers including:

EARLL M. MURMAN is Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Program Director of the Lean Aerospace Initiative at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

THOMAS J. ALLEN is Howard W Johnson Professor of Management at the Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Co-Director of the Lean Aerospace Initiative.

JOEL CUTCHER-GERSHENFELD is Executive Director, Engineering Systems Learning Center and Senior Research Scientist, Sloan School of Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.