Heijunka: The Leveling Art of the Japanese Auto Industry (Lean Foundations & Advanced AI Applications) - Softcover

Soliman, Mohammed Hamed Ahmed

 
9798215874561: Heijunka: The Leveling Art of the Japanese Auto Industry (Lean Foundations & Advanced AI Applications)

Synopsis

Heijunka (Japanese for "production leveling" or "production smoothing") is a key technique in achieving Just-In-Time (JIT) production. Its purpose is to smooth production across all departments and suppliers, ensuring a steady and predictable workflow while minimizing inventory.

Heijunka works by leveling both production volume and product mix. Instead of producing strictly according to fluctuating customer orders, it distributes the total demand over a period, maintaining a consistent daily output. This steady pace supports upstream and downstream operations, reduces waste, and helps teams consistently meet the defined takt time.

By implementing Heijunka, organizations can stabilize operations, improve flow, and maximize value throughout the production system.

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About the Author

Dr. Mohammed Hamed Ahmed Soliman is an internationally recognized Lean expert, author, and university lecturer. He has published over 100 books and articles on Lean thinking, quality systems, and industrial excellence. He currently teaches Industrial Engineering and Management Systems at the American University in Cairo, an Executive Advisor and a member of the Advisory Committee of the IEOM International Society, and consults for global organizations across manufacturing, public services, and education.

With nearly two decades of academic and professional experience, Dr. Soliman has trained professionals across the Middle East, including engagements with Princess Nourah University in Saudi Arabia and Vale Oman Pelletizing Company. He has designed and delivered over 60 leadership and technical development programs, helping organizations build a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Earlier in his career, he worked in various industrial sectors including crystal-glass manufacturing, fertilizers, and chemicals, while educating teams on the Toyota Production System. He has led numerous lean transformation projects, delivering measurable results and uncovering substantial cost savings by targeting waste across production and service environments.

His lectures and training materials have reached over 200,000 learners via SlideShare, and his research is ranked among the most downloaded papers on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) by Elsevier.

Dr. Soliman holds a BSc in Engineering, a master's in Quality Management, and postgraduate degrees in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management. He also holds certifications in quality, cost, and operations management. He is a member of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) and the Society for Engineering and Management Systems (SEMS).

His insights have been featured in SAGE Publications, Industrial Management, Lean Thinking, and other peer-reviewed platforms.

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