Lean Refining: How to Improve Performance in the Oil Industry

Lonnie Wilson merges his extensive knowledge and experience of both lean manufacturing and refining in an easy to grasp way. It reads as a conversation with a friend that is an expert in lean manufacturing and refining and he is on your team to help you solve your most challenging problems. He highlights ideas with specific examples in the refining industry. As a former refinery improvement manager, I can vouch for the values obtained by the implementation of lean in a variety of projects. The next step is for a refinery to completely embrace the lean principles. The refining company that does this will be in a position to set themselves apart from the competition. -- N. Brandon Hughes, ChEng & Energy MBA, Optimization & Production Analyst, YASREF an Aramco JV
No matter what your business, the principles identified in this book can positively change your company's operating and financial results--and your management skills! Implementing lean in our company profoundly changed our business, and me personally. Once we perfected these skills, we could take virtually any process and improve it by eliminating waste. This resulted in significant and lasting time and cost savings, while improving output and quality. Lonnie is an early practitioner and expert in lean management. His book offers practical advice on how to successfully implement lean. I highly recommend it."" -- Eugene J. Voiland, Founding President & CEO (retired), Aera Energy, LLC
For 25 years. I've watched Lonnie Wilson unwrap the most convoluted cause and effect relationships within complex systems and identify the opportunity like no other... I really mean like no other. It is simply uncanny how he breaks down complexity to deliver valuable insight and, most importantly, solutions that work. This book presents a snapshot of Lonnie's gift. Enjoy the story telling and reap the benefits of this opportunity to get inside his head! -- Jason Farley, Founder, BridgeGap Consulting
I have found in Lonnie Wilson a rare combination of both passion for, and the ability to clearly communicate, the principles of continuous improvement. And, maybe even more rare, he does so not for his own reputation but to equip and enable others to move out smartly and make a difference! -- Michael J. Wiseman, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, MJW Lean Consulting LLC
Here is a book that provides clear direction on how, and why to harness the collective experience and wisdom of the refinery workforce. In complex process plant operations such as oil refineries, raw material is processed with only a few percent profit. The product passes through the plants largely hidden in pipes, tanks and vessels, so the clues to the operation are observed through testing and various sensors. These all produce insight, most of which is difficult for computer analysis, but recognizable by people, especially when an enabling culture is in place. Improved utilization of the people is explained very well by the author in this ""how to"" for refiners. A ""must read"" for all refinery employees, these are instructions on how to create a world-class refining team. -- RR Kooiman, PE
Another wonderful resource from Lonnie on implementing lean manufacturing.If you are interested in someone to shine your shoes so you can look pretty at lean manufacturing, keep looking. However, if you are actually looking to Implement lean manufacturing and have a sensei that really knows how to do Lean, that will stand shoulder to shoulder with you and help you actually DO Lean, Lonnie is my recommendation. I wish I could have had the opportunity to have Lonnie teach and mentor me 25 years ago. Thank you, Sensei. -- Fred Kaschak, Global Manufacturing Director, The Woodbridge Group
Lonnie Wilson has brought his years of experience and passion in continuous improvement back to his roots in oil refining. This title will galvanize the refinery and continuous process industries to create huge gains in throughput and financial results. With practical and simple language, Lonnie shows how refineries can make huge gains in safety, quality, employee retention, and profits. His guidelines in this work will be followed by the industry's future winners and ignored by those destined to be on the scrapheap of history. It is not just the best book on the subject; it is the only book. It will change the industry forever. -- Robert H. Simonis, Founder, KCE Consulting, Director of Rapid Improvement, CEVA Logistics, Lieutenant Colonel (retired), U.S. Army