Aug 1, 2008 12:00 PM

Becoming a lean distributor by reducing internal operational costs can increase profitability without requiring customers to support higher prices. By reducing waste, a distributor's capacity to service customers will increase, while operational costs will be reduced.

That is the theme of Lean Operations in Wholesale Distribution, a newly published book by the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors' Institute for Distribution.

The book discusses steps distributors can take to apply business and lean principles and techniques to their operations to operate with minimal waste and few errors, while at the same time adding value to the products and services they provide.

To learn more, visit www.naw.org/leanops.