“Raise the Bar” New Book Launch and Industry-Academia Lean Forum
n this fast-changing era, businesses face unprecedented challenges. To help industries find the key to improving competitiveness, the Lean Product Development Center at National Cheng Kung University and the Taiwan Lean Enterprise System Association organized the Lean Forum and “Raise the Bar” New Book Launch on November 28, 2023, at the Windsor Hotel Taichung. The event was co-hosted by the Taiwan Machine Tool & Components Industry Association, YCM Co., Ltd., and Taiwan Inxhin Co., attracting nearly 200 domestic and international business executives, R&D personnel, and academic experts.
The forum featured Michael Ballé, author of global bestsellers such as The Lean Strategy and The Gold Mine, senior lean coach at the Lean Enterprise Institute (USA), and founder of the French Lean Institute. He shared insights from his latest book—Raise the Bar, published by Taiwan Inxhin Lean Consulting. The book recounts how Aramis, a startup founded in 2001, leveraged lean management to overcome market turbulence through internet and digital technologies. It highlights how, after finding the right lean mentor, Aramis achieved sustained growth, increasing annual revenue from €5 million during the pandemic to €200 million today.
The book introduces key aspects of lean management for enterprises, including shifting perspectives and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Many companies, as they scale, become siloed, focusing more on internal issues than customer needs—addressing only immediate problems without tackling root causes. Michael Ballé identifies these management blind spots, urging cross-departmental coordination, prioritizing improvement, and building trust. He further recommends replacing the traditional 4D review model (Define, Decide, Drive, Deal) with 4F (Find, Face, Frame, Form).
Another highlight of the forum was the sharing session by companies mentored by NCKU: Longhui Helmets, Hehe Machinery, and Ming Chang International. They showcased significant progress and growth achieved through improvements in product innovation and R&D processes. R&D is a critical driver of profitability and competitiveness; by learning how lean management enhances product development success rates, boosts R&D productivity, and shortens new product development cycles, attendees gained practical and actionable insights for lean transformation.
(From left) Lin Yi-Jie, Vice Chairman of Taiwan Machinery Industry Association; author Michael Ballé; Chen Bo-Jia, Chairman of Taiwan Machine Tool & Components Industry Association; and Hong Yu-Xiu, Director of NCKU Lean Product Development Center.
