Lean Standard System

About the Book

The Lean Standard System covers lean manufacturing concepts and closely related topics like performance measurements and integration with planning systems. It explains the core functionality that must be present in lean software to truly support basic concepts of pull (kanban) and flow.

The functions described in the Lean Standard System include those required to support value stream mapping, takt time and EPE Interval calculations, leveling and mixed model scheduling, kanban (pull) systems, visual control boards, supplier scheduling and performance measurements. It describes the activities that are part of a working lean production environment, as well as an explanation of the some of the assumptions and the experience that led to these functions.

The book is organized into the following chapters.

• Lean Overview
• Fundamental Calculations of Lean
• Modeling the Value Stream
• Leveling
• Kanban (Demand Pull) Systems and Material Route Design
• Visual Control Boards and Kanban Tracking
• Material Planning and Supplier Scheduling
• Measures of Performance
• Functional Checklists
• Reference Software Overview and Quick Start

Reference software that illustrates the concepts described in the book is available as a download from the author's website.

About the Author

Chris Gray has been at the forefront of applying proven manufacturing management methods and concepts for over three decades. Since 1979, he has helped more manufacturing and distribution companies resolve resource planning software issues than anyone else in the field. He has been involved in the design and development of both resource planning and lean manufacturing software.

He has authored or co-authored 6 books, over 30 Software Evaluations, and 30 published articles on ERP, enterprise software, and computers in manufacturing. He is a recognized authority on the software available for manufacturing and supply chain applications. He has a very active consulting practice working with teams implementing resource planning and lean execution methods.

Chris is President of Gray Research and one of the founders of Partners For Excellence. He was president of Oliver Wight Software Research, Inc. and one of the Oliver Wight Education Associates.

Chris has a Bachelors degree in mathematics from Washington and Jefferson College and a Masters degree in mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a past president of the North Shore chapter of APICS and was certified by APICS as a Fellow (CFPIM) in 1980. He is listed in six different volumes of Who's Who.