Focusing on the lean supply chain from an operations perspective, this insightful book offers a thorough overview, covering the activities of all the companies involved in the flow of products, services, finances, and information - from the initial suppliers to the ultimate users. It provides candid discussions of managers' tasks and responsibilities and how they may be best accomplished through the use of such conceptual tools as lean thinking, theory of constraints, and the balanced scorecard. The book uniquely integrates the discussion of theory of constraints with the lean supply chain, illustrating how both champion the use of pull to create the flow of goods and services through the value chain while emphasizing that lean is indeed a growth strategy.