As organizations strive to do more with less‎,‎ many are turning to Lean methodology‎,‎ which is based on the same techniques that propelled the legendary turnaround of Japan‎'‎s industrial sector after World War II‎.‎ Few leaders‎,‎ however‎,‎ understand that the real secret behind Lean is a comprehensive approach to management that differs significantly from what is taught in business school‎.‎ Lean initiatives‎,‎ consequently‎,‎ are rarely led by senior management‎,‎ and seldom lead to significant change‎.‎ The Lean CEO reveals the true power of Lean through in‎-depth interviews with CEOs who have gone beyond tool adoption and established Lean as a corporate‎-wide management system‎.‎ The all‎-star cast of twenty‎-eight leaders represents a wide variety of organizations‎,‎ including global manufacturers Ingersoll‎-Rand and Barry‎-Wehmiller‎,‎ healthcare icons Thedacare and Virginia Mason‎,‎ the states of Connecticut and Washington‎,‎ historical icons such as Wiremold‎,‎ and many more‎.‎ In a series of provocative chapters‎,‎ the CEOs tell in their own words how they applied Lean management to deliver sustainable financial results‎,‎ empower and motivate employees‎,‎ break down internal silos‎,‎ and build solid partnerships with customers and suppliers‎.‎ Their testimony provides a goldmine of practical advice for managers in Lean and non‎-Lean organizations alike as they share their unique personal insights on topics such as‎:‎ Leading and empowering people‎.‎ Building transparency and trust‎.‎ Tuning into the customer experience‎.‎ Aligning strategic direction with day‎-to‎-day operations‎.‎ Instilling a corporate‎-wide culture that promotes safety and quality‎.‎ Creating a learning organization Thoughtful‎,‎ sometimes brutally frank‎,‎ these leaders challenge many of the sacred cows of traditional business‎,‎ such as standard cost accounting‎,‎ hierarchical management‎,‎ emphasis on large batches‎,‎ and our obsession with data and computers‎.‎ Citing numerous examples from their experience‎,‎ they provide a fresh view of today‎'‎s business challenges and a positive roadmap for any organization that is striving for excellence‎.‎