Lean Accounting? 1

[Suzzz]

I thought I knew everything but discovered I don't. A friend tried to convince me to attend a conference about "lean accounting" with her. What's up with that? Why would I, as a consultant, need to know anything about what the accounting geeks (and I say that lovingly) do?

http://www.leanaccountingsummit.com/LA

If you're going, let me know why I should consider it. I want to stay relevant, but don't want to waste my money either.

 

[tygerdawg]

Sounds like yet another buzzword to allow "consultants" or "industry experts" a method of separating you from your money.

TygerDawg

 

[BML]

It is something of a gimmick, but has some basis in necessity. The standard accounting rules were set up a few hundred years ago, and don't always lead to the same answer as lean rules. It's always a good idea to know how to talk to the accounting geeks in their language so you can convince them to hire you as a consulting geek

As a professor once said, "Accountants would rather be exactly wrong than approximately right."

 

[MikeNH]

I cant speak for the siminar/training BUT moving traditional cost accounting from looking at only time standards to looking at real costs is one of the more difficult tasks in selling Lean Enterprise.

 

[BMaskell]

I attended this Lean Accounting Summit and was also a presenter. The conference was great. It was over-subscribed and the feedback from people attending was outstanding. The next one is in Orlando in September 2006. I would recommend it.

 

[Capntom]

BMaskel, You have done nothing but confirmed the replies stated above. "the conference was great", I am heavily into Lean, not a consultant, but a trained Black Belt working in industry. People need facts, details, examples, solutions. Nobody makes "Widgets" or assembles "Lego" blocks. If Lean is not applied correctly it WILL destroy a company. Too many people reading general books about Toyota and applying the techniques to the job shops in the country. Give us some meat and potatoes. WHY? should she attend........

 

[BMaskell]

Capntom: You asked "why should she attend". I will try a short but direct answer. Traditional cost and management accounting is an enemy of lean manufacturing and lean thinking in general. Traditional cost & measurement methods were developed to support mid-20th century mass production and they undermine a company's lean transformation efforts. Attending the Lean Accounting conference would give you real, practical solutions to these problems. September's conference (and next year's) approaches the issue from three perspectives; academic, practical, and presentations from accountants who have implemented Lean Accounting methods in their companies. If you are working in an organization attempting to implement lean thinking, you will find a lot to interest you and to apply in your own organization.

 

[automatic2]

If it doesn't apply to your core skills, don't waste your money, don't subject yourself to diversion. Your friend is looking for companionship. How many corporate sponsored courses have I attended that I say, man is this a waste of resources.

You want insight, ask your friend for an overview when she returns.

 

[CompositeGeek]

As a general pessimist about ANY form of cost accounting, Lean, ABC, etc.....

Until I can see an accounting method that actually represents a manufacturing system I say thee nay. Stay home...send your cfo and don't sweat it.

Now, lets talk T.O.C. vs cost accounting. If you call That lean accounting I may stay long enough to hear the lecture. But I refuse to restrain myself from laughing out loud!

Composites and Airplanes - what was I thinking?

There are gremlins in the autoclave!