IT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULTfor an author to narrow the list of acknowledgments, let
alone for coauthors. So many people have affected the learning and writing
process. We decided to list them separately within this section, which also gives
us the opportunity to thank each other and those who helped bring us together.From David Meier
As I began to reflect on the various people who have helped me in some way, I
was overwhelmed by the large number of individuals who had a part in bring-
ing me to the point where I could contribute to this book. It really would not be
possible to mention each person by name here. I want to say that any achieve-
ment I have reached is based on two broad groups: the individuals who trained
me to think and worked patiently with me, and the people whom I have been
teaching, and from whom I have learned a great deal.
I wish to thank the many teachers and trainers at Toyota who made great
sacrifices to help all of us at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky. The legacy
of understanding and ability has been passed along from generation to genera-
tion, like a special family recipe, within Toyota. I hope that my efforts honor the
spirit of those who have struggled and persevered to develop this process. I
would like to give special thanks to: Takeuchi-san, Kusukabi-san, Kidokoro-san,
Nakano-san, Ito-san, Honda-san, Miyagowa-san, and Ohno-san. I know that at
times I was a great challenge, and I appreciate your patience.
After leaving Toyota, I have continued on my journey of discovery and
growth, and I owe that largely to the people who have been students—and thus
my teachers. I am listing them in chronological order, as that is how I see my
personal development.
My first foray outside the walls of Toyota as a lean advisor was with Cedar
Works, in Peebles, Ohio. It may be that the first time is always the best, but the expe-
rience at Cedar Works was good enough to encourage me to take a larger leap.Acknowledgments
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