Philip Holt

After many years of practising and studying Lean Thinking, I developed a model of Lean Leadership that brings together its 4 core elements. In my book "Leading with Lean", I describe how anyone, wherever they might be in the organisation, can apply Lean Thinking and become a Lean Leader in their own right. My second book "The Simplicity of Lean" is a step-by-step guide to the Lean Thinking that makes your organisation more efficient and effective. The book offers the necessary context of how to apply Lean Thinking to make your Lean Transformation successful. Alongside the theory and the practical application of Lean, I share my personal insights and experiences, as well as individual success stories (and failures) from various Lean leaders from across the world. What the Experts say about 'Leading with Lean': “Philip has written a clear and practical guide for Lean champions and existing Lean leaders, which provides an end-to-end guide on designing and sustaining a Lean transformation. If you are looking to build a culture of continuous improvement, whether at one or a multi-site level, this provides some real gems of practical ‘know why’ and ‘know how’ for Lean leaders everywhere.” – Jon Tudor, president of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence UK “In Leading with Lean, Philip Holt has ably mapped out the benefits, challenges and effective approaches for leading a Lean transformation. Leading with Lean draws on lessons that the author learned from the trenches through to the executive level, while helping to guide a decade-long Lean journey at a global multinational corporation. The book will appeal both to the executive searching for a comprehensive framework for leading with Lean, and to the Lean expert who must speak a common language to gain buy-in and behavior change from the leaders in their organization. Packed with practical wisdom, the reader will no doubt be compelled to put the book down and take action many times before turning the final page.” – Jon Miller, partner at the Gemba Academy “Philip Holt provides the reader with more than an in depth look at leading with lean, he provides a process along with insightful new concepts to grab the reader and bring them many revelations on leading the lean journey. Concepts such as Leadership Activism, Mosquito leadership, and many others provide a straight forward and practical understanding of leading a lean journey. If you are leading a lean transformation, it is a must read for your leadership team.” – Kevin J. Duggan, President, Duggan Associates “Although Lean has been around for some time, it continues to make defining inroads both in new industries and in office environments. I can’t think of anybody better placed than Philip to share his reflections and experiences accumulated over more than 25 years leading change with Lean in both manufacturing and services. I recommend this book to all, as its practical insights will help us to lead the change we want to see.” – Mathieu Verger, Head of Accounting Operations, Philips Lighting What the Experts say about 'The Simplicity of Lean': “Philip has written a practical book about the why and how of Lean, a simple model for consistent growth and continuous improvement. I actually wish he had written this book before I started my Lean learning journey. It will be a great help to anyone embarked on the learning curve, full of practical and applicable lessons and complemented with Hansei reflection space. Lean makes life easier, especially when under Philip’s guidance. Who does not need a little simplicity these days to ensure that we can focus on the things that matter, like growth and innovation?” – Simone Noordegraaf, CEO of iPEC Coaching Europe and Executive Coach “With The Simplicity of Lean, Philip has created a comprehensive overview of the fundamental thinking behind Lean, as well as how to apply the lean tools in a pragmatic way. A very useful guide to jump-start your Lean journey or a good refresher for people who are already underway” – Hans van‘t Riet, VP, Tranformation Leader & Head of Implementation Competence Centre, Philips “Organisational transformation is notoriously difficult to achieve and even harder to sustain, not least due to the complexity of the myriad human factors involved. In The Simplicity of Lean, Philip addresses some of the key elements of a successful Lean Transformation, from expectations to leaders’ beliefs. The book contains some real gems, focused on people issues, making it an excellent guide to the technical and social application of Lean.” – David Bovis, Managing Director, Duxinaroe Ltd and Business Consulting Associate Director, Grant Thornton LLP “In The Simplicity of Lean, Philip provides a powerful and versatile array of management tools. Most importantly however, these tools are presented in a context that connects with the realities of daily operations, both technical and interpersonal. Philip doesn’t just give you the tools, he gives you a framework for introducing these tools to the people who will use and sustain them. He accomplishes this through both thought experiments and real personal stories from the Gemba. Understanding “The Simplicity of Lean” will enable you to overcome the complex challenges that all organisations face in creating a better future for your company, its customers and your community.” – Collin McLoughlin, Author of True Kaizen, Founder of Enna, an imprint of Productivity Press “The Simplicity of Lean is an ideal companion for the Lean Practitioner. Written in a very personal manner, it addresses the four key elements necessary to put a lean culture in place. Based on experiences in both manufacturing and office based activity, it educates the reader on the core devices within each of these key elements. Gems of personal insight and reflection will make this a thought provoking read for both experienced and novice Lean Practitioners. Before you lead with Lean, you first need to understand the fundamentals of Lean, and how to put a Lean system in place. This book provides that practical model and is ideal for those embarking on the journey to create a Lean culture." – Jon Tudor, Managing Director, True North Excellence and former President, Association for Manufacturing Excellence (UK) Philip is currently Senior Vice President, Operational Excellence, at GKN Aerospace, the world’s leading multi-technology tier 1 aerospace supplier. He was formerly Vice President, Continuous Improvement at Travelport, a leading Travel Commerce Platform, and prior to that held a number of senior Lean Leadership roles with Royal Philips, most notably Head of Continuous Improvement for Philips, Head of Continuous Improvement for the Consumer Lifestyle sector, and Head of Operational Excellence, Accounting Operations. Philip was the lead author of the Philips Lean Excellence Model. Philip has over 30 years of business experience in leadership roles spanning the customer value chain, in Industry Leading Companies such as GKN Aerospace, Philips, Gillette, and Travelport. During this time he has built up an impressive reputation in Lean Leadership practices and is a regular speaker at industry conferences. He studied at Manchester Metropolitan University, Warwick Business School, and the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School).