Manufacturing Journalist, Thomas R. Cutler authored an important chapter in the new book, Lean Accounting for Manufacturers – A Tool for Lean Transformation (ISBN #: 978-81-314-2491-
In Chapter 12, Cutler says, “Lean accounting cost management provides a fresh way to look at accounting for operations in manufacturing companies. Lean cost management provides the tools that help staff to understand the changing physical operations in the plant. Traditional accounting is not spoken by the staff of a shop floor…they have to use the information to improve. Accounting information must be translated and should be easy to understand, actionable, and timely.”
Cutler profiles the need to keep score through lean accounting. Manufacturers determine the operational elements in the value stream to track. Those elements are shown in the top half of the scorecard; in the bottom half of the scorecard, financial performance is show. This includes common elements, such as sales elements per employee, inventory turns, variable margin, and gross margin.
Operational items are displayed on the top of the scorecard because it where people have to focus. If the operational scorecard is improved, the financial scorecard will also improve. To test the efficacy of the operational parameters, improvements are made on the operational side that does not improve the financial picture were the wrong operational parameters utilized.
About TR Cutler, Inc.:
TR Cutler, Inc. (www.trcutlerinc.com)
TR Cutler, Inc.
www.trcutlerinc.com
Thomas Cutler
trcutler@trcutlerinc.com
888-902-0300



