Behind the Book

Book Description

Drawing on his years of working with hospitals, Mark Graban explains why and how lean can be used to improve safety, quality, and efficiency in a healthcare setting. Graban highlights the benefits of lean methods for patients, employees, physicians, and the hospital itself. The book explains how lean manufacturing staples such as Value Stream Mapping and process observation can help hospital personnel identify and eliminate waste from their own processes, preventing delays for patients, reducing wasted motion for caregivers, and improving the quality of care. Graban also describes how Standardized Work and error-proofing can prevent common hospital errors. The book also describes root cause problem-solving and daily improvement processes that can engage everyone in systemic improvement. Intended as a guide for hospital administrators, the book elaborates the steps they can take to begin the process of lean implementation.

About the Author

Mark Graban is a senior Lean consultant with ValuMetrix® Services, part of Ortho Clinical Diagnostics and Johnson & Johnson. In his role, Mark works with hospital clients across North America, training employees, executives, and clinicians in Lean concepts and coaching project teams in implementing Lean methods and management systems. He is also a popular speaker and lecturer for healthcare audiences.

Mark earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Northwestern University. He later earned dual master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and its Leaders for Manufacturing Program.

Before moving into healthcare, Mark implemented Lean in varied manufacturing industries, including automotive, computers, and industrial controls. He is the founder of the Lean Blog website (www.leanblog.org) and has published articles in publications including Laboratory Medicine and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Lean Yearbook 2007.