The Wholesaler Blog

Becoming lean in wholesale distribution is more important than ever in today’s challenging economic market. Applying lean concepts makes sense because becoming lean means becoming a more effective distributor. And becoming lean will lead to higher profitability.

To help distributors reach this goal, the NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence has published “Lean Operations in Wholesale Distribution.” The book, written by Dr. Perry Daneshgari and Michelle Wilson of the MCA Inc., discusses the steps distributors must take to design and manage a lean culture. It deals with one lucrative area, operations, which includes all aspects of the order processing system — from the time an order is sought to order entry and all the way through to delivery of products and services.

Applying the tools and techniques explained in this book will help a wholesaler operate with minimal waste and few errors, while at the same time meeting the primary goal of adding value to their products and services.

Lean doesn’t happen by itself; it happens by design. This book, with its 70 detailed exhibits, provides a solid foundation for understanding lean and offers a starting point for applying continuous process improvement throughout a wholesaling firm — one area at a time. Lean is not a destination; it’s a journey.

To order a copy of the book, go to www.naw.org/leanops or call 202/872-0885. Quantity discounts apply when ordering two or more copies.