Lean Distribution: Applying Lean Manufacturing to Distribution, Logistics, and Supply Chain (Hardcover) by Kirk D. Zylstra (Author)

Product Description

"Kirk Zylstra's focus on the customer is a fresh approach to lean. Companies that can bear the burden of variability will develop a strategic advantage in today's volatile market."
—Travis Jarrell Institute of Industrial Engineers Program Committee Chair

"Lean Distribution is a comprehensive yet concise work with clear leanings. Kirk's experience across a range of industries brings a unique understanding of common opportunities and solutions available to optimize distribution processes. Lean techniques, typically effective in manufacturing processes, are applied in the downstream supply chain in a practical and productive manner that will offer something to any business distributing tangible goods."
—F. Jeff Duncan Jr. VP, CIO, and Director of Technology Louisiana Pacific Corp.

"Lean Distribution has robustly captured the revolution occurring in today's increasingly competitive and global supply chain. Eliminating losses through lean manufacturing and lean distribution initiatives will become even more critical enablers to organizations developing cost-advantaged supply chains."
—Rick McDonald Director of Manufacturing The Clorox Company
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #182500 in Books
Published on: 2005-11-11
Number of items: 1
Binding: Hardcover
240 pages
Editorial Reviews

Review
"...arguement it advances is that traditional forecast-driven approaches to supply chain management are inappropriate in today's turbulent markets." (Supply Management,, March 2006)

"... would recommend it ...to understand ... fundamentals of making the transformation from a production "push" to a demand "pull" supply chain." (Supply Management, April 2006)

Download Description
""Kirk Zylstra's focus on the customer is a fresh approach to lean. Companies that can bear the burden of variability will develop a strategic advantage in today's volatile market."" Travis Jarrell Institute of Industrial Engineers Program Committee Chair ""Lean Distribution is a comprehensive yet concise work with clear leanings. Kirk's experience across a range of industries brings a unique understanding of common opportunities and solutions available to optimize distribution processes. Lean techniques, typically effective in manufacturing processes, are applied in the downstream supply chain in a practical and productive manner that will offer something to any business distributing tangible goods."" F. Jeff Duncan Jr. VP, CIO, and Director of Technology Louisiana Pacific Corp. ""Lean Distribution has robustly captured the revolution occurring in today's increasingly competitive and global supply chain. Eliminating losses through lean manufacturing and lean distribution initiatives will become even more critical enablers to organizations developing cost-advantaged supply chains."" Rick McDonald Director of Manufacturing The Clorox Company

From the Inside Flap
Many companies in diverse industries have implemented Lean manufacturing practices and successfully reduced operating costs, slashed inventories, reduced floor space, and improved customer service. However, few companies have successfully implemented Lean principles across distribution operations. The barrier: most distribution systems are based on inherently inaccurate forecasts that "push" inventory to warehouses to accommodate fluctuations in customer demand. This book shows how to break through the forecast accuracy barrier by applying proven Lean practices that reduce costs and simplify distribution processes.

Lean Distribution addresses the most challenging issues currently facing industry: forecast revisions and inaccuracies, customer demands to limit inventory exposure, and the need to reduce supply chain costs. Compounding these issues is the global sourcing firmly entrenched in industry. Global sourcing entails longer supply-chains, compounding the chronic limitations of forecasting, planning, and supply chain optimization. While these problems appear to have mutually exclusive solutions, Lean simplifies distribution operations and processes to bring results.

Lean Distribution resolves the forecasting dilemma and provides an actionable road map to transform the supply chain with specific recommendations to implement improvements. Lean embraces the variation and inaccuracy inherent in forecasts and customer orders to focus on reducing lead time, reducing lot sizes, and increasing reliability, yielding the flexibility and simplicity required to achieve consistent results. This book goes beyond describing the principles and a foundation to provide a comprehensive, real-world framework and specific recommendations for customizing a Lean approach to transform distribution in any business.

Derived from the author's experiences assessing product flow and implementing Lean principles in diverse companies and industries, Lean Distribution presents a proven, real-world approach to distribution—an approach that saves money and improves customer service.
Customer Reviews

Lean Distribution
The issue is very enlightening to a non-D&T person. Helps to look at different aspects that affect D&T.

Lean Distribution is a "must have" text on supply chain optimization
Zylstra has effectively packaged more than two decades of experience as a leading practitioner of production and supply chain optimization. Sharing client experiences has allowed Zylstra to add context to what at times is necessarily a technical path to getting the most out of your supply chain for both your organization and your customers. Lean Distribution is a "must have" text on how to successfully analyze and implement proven optimization techniques.

Excellent primer for how to do distribution right
This book is an excellent guidebook for how to setup distribution right the first time. I found many concepts inside that were highly applicable to my business which involves several different and complex distribution challenges due to compliance and lead time constraints. I would encourage anyone looking to setup a distribution network or rework one to read this book.