The last few years have been characterized by advancing globalization and dramatic structural breaks in the business environment. Companies find themselves in an increasingly intense direct and global competition. Political changes, such as the collapse of the Soviet Union or the emergence of economic blocs, have also exerted significant pressure for adaptation on businesses. Today, customer proximity, a strong market, short delivery cycles, and top quality at low prices are among the metrics of a successful enterprise. Mass production is giving way to customer-oriented manufacturing. Quality has become a company-wide paradigm, without which long-term viability is impossible. This book describes and analyzes two management concepts that enable adaptation to current conditions.