Origins of lean management in America: The role of Connecticut businesses

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a historical account of the significant role that Connecticut businesses and business leaders had in the spread of Lean management throughout the USA. The paper aims to describe what happens when managers do not understand and apply an important principle of Lean management.Design/methodology/approach – Survey of published and unpublished records, as well as personal communications with key figures.Findings – Establishes the role and importance of Connecticut businesses and business leaders in the discovery and dissemination of Lean management in America since 1979, external to Toyota and its affiliated suppliers.Research limitations/implications – The accuracy of some past events necessarily relies on the recollection of key figures that were obtained by personal communications.Practical implications – Describes how an important principle, “respect for people,” was not understood by most management practitioners, thus hindering efforts to correctly practi...