The book contrasts with 'Getting Things Done' by emphasizing teamwork and thoughtful, experimental approaches to productivity. Ohno's methods, like Kanban and Just-in-Time manufacturing, focus on reducing waste and improving efficiency, offering a more collaborative and practical approach to business management.
This book stands in stark contrast to 'Getting Things Done,' which portrays the employee as isolated and overwhelmed. Ohno's work highlights a collaborative and thoughtful approach to productivity, inspired by supermarkets and automated looms. His methods, such as Kanban and Just-in-Time manufacturing, aim to reduce waste and improve efficiency. The book is praised for its brevity and insightful sentences that offer valuable insights into business management. Ohno's emphasis on appropriate practices for different contexts and his respect for the Ford system add depth to his philosophy. The book is seen as a valuable resource for understanding the Toyota Production System and its impact on modern manufacturing.
Quick quotes
This is a book that sits for me in absolute contrast to Getting Things Done.
The work to achieve this goal of reaching US levels of productivity was slow, experimental and thoughtful.
The first great thing about Ohno's book is that it is short. I mean this in the positive sense. Many books are long, as though trying to justify the cover price, particularly it seems in business writing. An excess of words though is not quality. This book however is pithy. Concentrated. Flicking through it, a sentence catches my eye and the insights make me smile.