Journal of IMS Group

BOOK REVIEW

The Machine that Changed the World

Authors: James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones & Daniel Roos Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK Ltd Year of Publication: 2007 Pages: viii+ 339

The classics are never outdated. They are the in America was controlled by Ford, GM and ‘game changer’ and never lose their sheen. One Chrysler, between 1950s & 1980s. This also led such book under review is “ The Machine that to diffusion of ‘mass production’ to Europe Changed the World”. The book was based and Latin America. However, study found that on a $ 5 million project named International in later years share of Japanese cars especially Motor Vehicle Programme(IMVP) at increased considerably, and that Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). attracted western people towards “Lean The essence of the book lies in discovering production philosophies”. “Lean production philosophies” used by Toyota of , later known as “Toyota In order to understand “Lean production” in Production System (TPS)” worldwide. Prior entirety, exclusive chapters are devoted to to the publication of the book in 1990, two different facets of Lean ie designing a car; American companies –Ford and General coordinating the supply chain; dealing with Motors (GM), known for ‘mass production’, customers; and managing the lean enterprise. were far bigger in size than the Toyota car The authors of study has identified visit to manufacturing co. of Japan. The book divided Hiroshima and Toyota city as ‘new industrial into ten chapters, specifically highlights ‘how pilgrimage’, after all they are the hub of humans work together to create value and . The rise of Japan how lean production revolutionized the in 1970s was, infact due to its export oriented global car wars’. economy based on lean production philosophies. The outcome of such project was What Peter Drucker long back dubbed that American and British companies began automobile manufacturing as “the industry of embracing ‘Lean production’ in order to Industries”, producing more than 50 million become competitive in the world automobile of production of vehicles every year, both market. This book is strongly recommended and General Motor’s Alfred Sloan, to young managers , who wants to understand switched from ‘craft production’ to ‘mass lean production and its salience in modern production post World War I. Infact, productions. Industries were in transition. However, after World War II, Eiji Toyoda & Taichi Ohno at Reviewed By: the Toyota Motor Co. in Japan pioneered the Dr. S.K. Dube concept of ‘Lean Production’. The chapter 2 (Associate Professor & & 3 highlights the ‘rise & fall of mass Area Chairperson-IB) production’ and ‘rise of lean production’ IMS Ghaziabad respectively. The hey day of mass production

Volume 15, No. 1 | January-June, 2018 86 ISSN No. 0973-824X