■ The Big Idea
The book discusses a framework that enables a company to optimize utilization of its resources by directly involving all of its manpower in the enhancement and improvement of the productivity of its operations. This results not only in increased quality and efficiency, but in heightened employee morale and in markedly improved customer service.

■ About the Author
Norman Bodek
Norman Bodek is president of PCS Press, a publishing, training, and consulting company. He discovered and published the works of: Dr. Shigeo Shingo and Taiichi Ohno, the inventors of the Toyota Production System. He introduced the west to Kaizen Blitz, SMED, TPM, Poka-Yoke, Visual Factory, Hoshin, and QFD and other methodologies. In 1988 he initiated the Shingo Prize for Manufacturing Excellence with Professor Vern Buehler at Utah State University.

Most recently he co-authored a book with Bunji Tozawa titled: The Idea Generator - Quick and Easy Kaizen. Through newsletters, books and 50 industrial study missions to Japan Norman discovered, had translated and popularized many of the Japanese quality tools, techniques, and technologies that transformed American industry in the mid 1980s and 1990s.

Norman has been a frequent instructor and speaker for organizations including the American Management Association, President Reagans Productivity Conference, Institute of Industrial Engineers, American Society for Quality, as well as at hundreds of conferences, seminars, and in plant training events.