Art of Lean

Author · Toyota Veteran · Lean AI Pioneer

40 years of Toyota Production System expertise — distilled into books, workshops, and practical tools for lean leaders.

Art Smalley delivering a keynote presentation in Brazil
Art Smalley at a book signing with copies of Four Types of Problems

Publications

Books

From reactive troubleshooting to creative innovation — practical frameworks for problem solving, A3 thinking, and kaizen.

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Art Smalley leading a lean workshop with flip charts and training materials

Free Downloads

TPS Documents

Training materials from inside Toyota — TWI handbooks, standardized work templates, kaizen guides, and expert interviews.

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Team gathered for a daily lean management meeting around visual boards

Writing

Articles

Lessons from inside Toyota — leadership, problem solving, kaizen, and what most companies get wrong about lean.

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Vintage Japanese classroom with Toyota Production System on chalkboard

Deep Dives

Research

In-depth articles on PDCA, Toyota product development, and what the original sources actually say — with Japanese references.

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Art Smalley presenting kaizen concepts

Encyclopedia & Timeline

Reference

TPS encyclopedia with Japanese origins and practical guidance, plus a timeline of Toyota Production System history.

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Lean Tech Portal — AI-powered lean tools built by Art Smalley

With the Lean Enterprise Institute

Lean AI

20 AI-powered tools for A3 reports, problem solving, and continuous improvement — built by a Toyota veteran.

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