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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A serious read for the manufacturing IT professional..., September 9, 2006
This review is from: Lean Enterprise Systems: Using IT for Continuous Improvement (Hardcover)
If you're involved in a manufacturing organization's IT department, this particular book will provide you with a lot of information about manufacturing theory and practice, as well as how IT plays a part in it all... Lean Enterprise Systems: Using IT for Continuous Improvement by Steve Bell.
Part 1 - Building Blocks of the Lean Enterprise: Lean and IT - the Human Factor; Realizing the Value of Lean; Three Stages of Lean Evolution; Fundamentals of Production and Inventory Management; Lean Planning and Execution
Part 2 - Building Blocks of Information Systems: Charting the Enterprise Software Universe; Integrating the Value Streams; Managing Knowledge for Competitive Advantage
Part 3 - Managing Change with IT: The Event-Driven Lean Enterprise; Linking Strategy with Action - Performance Management; Lean IT - Applying Continuous Improvement to Information Systems; Postscript - Zen and the Art of Lean
Acknowledgements; Acronyms; Endnotes; Index
This is one of those books that is extremely dense with information, but is admittedly beyond my experience level. Bell goes into great depth on how manufacturing production cycles function (or don't function) both in theory and reality. A prior background or some level of knowledge of how the Japanese manufacturing techniques work is helpful, as you'll see terms like kanban and kaizen used frequently. The goal is to use IT systems to help drive the process towards a "lean" approach, or one that is light on inventory and strong in "just-in-time" scheduling. While not an easy read by any stretch, the material is such that it could be considered a "should be on the bookshelf" item for any IT professional who considers themselves a subject expert in manufacturing.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extensive research and coverage, December 8, 2010
This review is from: Lean Enterprise Systems: Using IT for Continuous Improvement (Hardcover)
Worth it's weight in gold! For a non-IT and non-manufacturing student of Lean this book filled in more gaps than the review space will allow for.
The book manages to go a mile wide and a mile deep and still be digestible. Lean, Theory of Constraints, CONWIP, Hoshin Kanri-the book gives good information on all within the IT environment which can help in understanding how information silos get built, and how they can be torn down.
I bought this book to help support the task I was given-Selection and Implementation of an ERP system. Most Lean books I have come across/read deal with the shop floor in the repetitive environment. Steve takes you into the server room to show you how the the pieces fit together and what happens if they don't.
This book is perfect for the small to mid-sized organization that is struggling to take care of their customers from disconnected spreadsheets, emails, and various other applications. If you are considering an ERP system, read this book. If you are trying to fill out the top part of your Value Streams, read this book. If you want to know what the Copernican View of ERP/MRP, PLM,& CRM is, read this book. If you want to have well researched (246 references) material to point to when moving from your functional silo, to another functional silo (sales to operations or IT to engineering or finance, HR, IT, and operations all at once) to explain what your information needs are, take this book.
If you want a sneak peak (which was how I found this book in the first place)go to Google books and type in the title. That should convince you it is worth your while.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A lean classic, January 14, 2011
This review is from: Lean Enterprise Systems: Using IT for Continuous Improvement (Hardcover)
As a practitioner and voracious reader of lean literature, I purchased Steve Bell's book when it was first published in 2006. In 2011, I still marvel at its relevance, breadth, depth, and the great care of his research in representing manufacturing system dynamics. Not only does he present cogent discourse on the integration of IT and lean systems, he beautifully represents the human element that is fundamental to lean philosophy. Destined to be a classic, very few authors have approached this work in terms of its holistic treatment of lean.
While the IT subtitle may look initially imposing to some, this book is as warm and approachable as it is clear and comprehensive. It is very much a book for everyone at every level of the aspiring lean enterprise. It is both a serious book for IT professionals and a stand-alone lean reference. As student, trainer, and consultant I keep Lean Enterprise Systems on an easy to reach shelf - when it's not in my computer bag!
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