“Creating Level Pull” workbook shows you how to advance a lean manufacturing transformation from a focus on isolated improvements to improving the entire plantwide production system by implementing a lean production control system. "The workbook is unique because it is a step-by-step case study on how to implement a level, pull-based production control system,” said author Art Smalley. "This is a new step towards ‘system kaizen that is not yet well understood outside of Toyota." The lean efforts at most companies focus on "point kaizen" (e.g., reducing set up times, etc.) that improves a small portion of the value stream running from raw materials to finished products. Or they focus on "flow kaizen" that improves the entire value stream for one product family. Creating Level Pull shows how companies can make the leap to "system kaizen" by introducing a lean production control system that ties together the flows of information and materials supporting every product family in a facility. With this system in place, each production activity requests precisely the materials it needs from the previous activity and demand from the customer is leveled to smooth production activities throughout the plant. Like all LEI workbooks, “Creating Level Pull” is written in plain English and walks you through the implementation process using a clear question-and-answer format, supported by diagrams, value-stream maps, and all the key formulas. Using a realistic example facility, Smalley shows you how to make the transition to a robust pull system. This involves answering a series of 12 critical questions including what items to hold in finished goods inventory and what items to make to order, how to buffer the system against instability and how to level the production schedule. Careful attention to leveling (heijunka) permits facilities to accommodate variations in demand with minimum inventories, capital costs, manpower, and production lead time. Art Smalley was one of the first foreigners made a permanent employee of the Toyota Motor Corporation in Japan, assisting with the startup of Toyota facilities in the U.S. and other countries. He subsequently was Director of Lean Production Operations at Donnelly Corporation and manager of the Production System Design Center at McKinsey and Company. LEI's first workbook, “Learning to See”, focused on where to start the lean transformation — at the value stream for each product family within your facilities. “Creating Continuous Flow” described how to introduce truly continuous flow in production activities. “Making Materials Flow” explained how to implement a lean materials-handling system that supports continuous flow. “Seeing the Whole” extended the mapping process for product families beyond the walls of individual facilities to encompass entire value streams. “Creating Level Pull” moves beyond the value stream for individual product families to take on production control for all of the product families within a facility.