Product Description
The manufacturing industry-in the United States-alone employs 17 million workers.

Behind Manufacturing Works there is one simple premise: America’s manufacturing base drives its prosperity. The industrial sector is special because of its size, its ability to generate innovation and value, its importance to national security, its role in meeting people’s wants and needs, and the dignity of the work it provides for 17 million Americans. The combined problems of a worsening U.S. trade balance, mounting layoffs, and uncertainties in financial markets are heightening the need to strengthen the U.S. industrial base in order to sustain the prosperity the nation has enjoyed in recent years.

Based on the landmark study they created to explore the American manufacturing landscape, authors Fred Zimmerman and Dave Beal take a hard look at this often-unappreciated section in 232 key counties. Zimmerman and Beal build their case through concise research, scores of interviews, and many visits to factory floors.

The intelligent discussion of Manufacturing Works will be appreciated and respected by labor leaders, corporate executives, people interested in public policy, and rank-and-file factory workers. The book initiates a provocative discussion on how comparative advantage can be created and lost, including:

• Appraisal of the U.S. industrial base, which was the principal force behind prosperity in the 1990s but was overshadowed by Internet-related companies and other parts of the economy

• Critical analysis of how American manufacturing has survived despite many pressures from home and abroad

• Explanation of why a strong manufacturing sector remains essential to the long-term survival of our nation’s economy

Made more comprehensible through graphics, tables, and maps, Manufacturing Works tells the stories of the workers, managers, community leaders, and others-the faces behind the data. ... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive exploration of manufacturing technology. ... Read more

Product Description
This text is developed and written for an intermediate/advanced course in Operations Management or Manufacturing Planning and Control. This course will be found in the better undergraduate programs in the MBA curriculum as an elective, or in Industrial or manufacturing engineering departments. The text will compete indirectly with MRP based books such as Vollmann et al, Fogarty/Hoffman, or McLeavey/Narasimhan in most cases because of the business emphasis, but may also appeal to Nahmias and/or Hopp/Spearman adopters. The "CMM" text covers all aspects of modern manufacturing management with emphasis on the recent strategic approaches such as JIT and TQM and within a style and level of rigor appropriate for business students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Simplified Toyota system of production
This book is a step by step guide of the japanese system of production. Subjects that are very obscure in other books are depicted with remarkable simplicity. This is a good textbook for an international competitive manufacturing class.

perfect for deeper understanding of manufacturing
It is the best book in competitive manufacturing management.The author use the simple approach to analyze the difficult problems in manufacturing.

It is useful for teachers and managers in manufacturingfields ... Read more

Product Description
In spite of its widespread and growing acceptance aroundthe world, a clear explanation of the methods of flow manufacturinghas been lacking. In Fundamentals of Flow Manufacturing, flow veteransGerard Leone and Richard D. Rahn fill this void with a step-by-stepexposition of flow manufacturing strategies. Presenting theimplementation process with entertaining and easy-to-understandexamples, case histories and war stories, Leone and Rahn make itpossible for both manufacturing and non-manufacturing professionals tounderstand how this strategy applies to them. The benefits includefast response time to customers, error-free processes, high qualityand productivity, and the ability to compete in today’s globaleconomy.

Leone and Rahn are experts in flow manufacturing, and as trainers andconsultants they have implemented flow in some of the world’s largestcompanies, including GE, Boeing, Kodak, Applied Materials and EmersonElectric. Mr. Rahn is also the author of Advanced Flow Manufacturing,published in 2001. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Detailed and practical guide to Flow.
Though the title states "fundamentals", I think this book goes beyond that in its treatment of flow.I don't like "theory" books so I was very pleased with the practical approach taken by the authors. Most lean/JIT books cover flow, but rarely in enough detail; Fundamentals of Flow Manufacturing does a good job of balancing adequate detail without overloading the reader. I also have to complement the authors on sticking to the topic and not getting sidetracked into other lean topics.

Of particular interest are the detailed calculations associated with setting up flow lines and kanbans. I also appreciated the discussion of the implications of manufacturing software and flow. This book is very well organized and a moderately quick read. ... Read more

Product Description

The book presents computer integrated manufacturing as an integral element of the entire manufacturing process, describing its relation to product and process design issues; computer-based process control and automation; operations and information systems for manufacturing; quality; and human considerations. This book delves into the manufacturing enterprise, the design elements and production engineering, controlling the enterprise resources, and enabling processes and systems for modern manufacturing. Professionals preparing for the APICS certification exams.

Customer Reviews (4)

COMPREHENSIVE TEXT ON CIM
I enrolled in a Computer Integrated Manufacturing graduate course that used this text.Overall, the text is more qualitative based, but presents all the factors one may be exposed to if working in, or looking to implement CIM within their company.I would recommend keeping it for your personal library, but I only wish the text had a more quantitative focus.

Better than thought
I purchased the book as a text for a class.Being no fan of the largely failed quality movement of the 1980's through CIM and automation, I thought that I was in for another round of why computers and machines are the way to save us.

Turns out, the author takes a good look at where the 1980's effort failed and what the focus, (at least at the time of publication), should be.

Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
Many manufacturing technology professors feel unsure about the nature and teaching computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)in their program.James A. Rehg and Henry W. Kraebber are dynamic authors, as they present CIM as atechnical and strategic function of an organization.They offer a technical and management-based approach for understanding and implementing CIM in the "world class manufacturing" settings. Unlike other CIM books,Computer Integrated Manufacturing is written from the manufacturing technology professor's point of view with technical expertise. The CIMmodel used is consistent with the SME Manufacturing Enterprise Wheel developed by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. This books explains the fundamental principles as well as practical applications of computer integratedmanufacturing in a clear and effective manner and the illustrations and complement the text well.

Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
Many manufacturing technology professors feel unsure about the nature and teaching computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)in their program.James A. Rehg and Henry W. Kraebber are dynamic authors, as they present CIM as atechnical and strategic function of an organization.They offer a technical and management-based approach for understanding and implementing CIM in the "world class manufacturing" settings. Unlike other CIM books,Computer Integrated Manufacturing is written from the manufacturing technology professor's point of view with technical expertise. The CIMmodel used is consistent with the SME Manufacturing Enterprise Wheel developed by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. This books explains the fundamental principles as well as practical applications of computer integratedmanufacturing in a clear and effective manner and the illustrations complement the text well. ... Read more

Product Description
Far more ambitious than any similar reference, the Handbook of Manufacturing Processes is an in-depth compilation of the workings of more than 1500 manufacturing processes in the metalworking, chemicals, textiles, plastics, ceramics, electronics, wood, and food industries; as well as a wide-ranging presentation of how more than 600 important products, components, and materials are made. Logically organized in two sections--a process section and a products section--it describes clearly and succinctly the operations performed in the world's factories. Heavily illustrated, it is an extraordinarily comprehensive source of technical manufacturing information.Manufacturing and process engineers, factory managers and supervisors, and anyone who has an interest in or needs to know about manufacturing operations and how products are made - including those not technically trained -- will find in this book a treasure trove of useful information.

Distinctive Features
- Practical, understandable explanations, even for complex processes.
- Clear, jargon-free descriptions of how each of 1500 current and recently developed manufacturing processes work, what they do to the material or workpiece that is worked on, what the results are, and where these processes are used and why.
- Precise explanations of how 600 products, components, and materials are made.
- Text entries that are coded as in an outline, with these alpha/numerical designations carried over to the related illustrations for easy cross-referencing.
- Related processes that are grouped together; and sequential operations that are covered in order.
- Contributions from an Editorial Board of 24 experts.
- More than 600 line drawings and photographs.
- A detailed table of contents and very extensive index.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent Historical Detail of Manufacturing
Mr. Bralla's newest effort completely encompasses the 'how, why,where and when" of evolutionary engineering.Value added...most certainly with detailed 24/7 historical solutions presented joyfully by someone supported by career success' and offered to the educated, the uneducated
at every level of production.A must for every library.

Paul W. Foster (retired)
Plant Manager/General Cable Corporation

Field Engineer/Baker Mine Service (Hughes Tool Corporation)

Handbook of Manufacturing Processes
This handbook is a joy to leisurely browse for information and inspiration about how things are, or were, made.Or if you have a specific interest, the well organized indices make the pertinent section easy to find.With the retirement and dislocation of our domestic manufacturing personnel and facilities, such clear and well illustrated discussions are difficult to find elsewhere.Subjects from abrasives to zippers are covered, including sections of food technology, chemicals, plastics, materials and textiles.An excellent addition to an engineer's, historian's, or technophile's bookcase. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

Product Description

Pinedo is a major figure in the scheduling area (well versed in both stochastics and combinatorics) , and knows both the academic and practitioner side of the discipline.

This book includes the integration of case studies into the text (and on an enclosed CD).

It will appeal to engineering and business students interested in operations research.

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent book
I got my book ealier that I was expecting and it is in excellent conditions!!. ... Read more

Product Description

Sterile Drug Products: Formulation, Packaging, Manufacturing, and Quality teaches the basic principles of the development and manufacture of high quality sterile dosage forms. The author has 38 years of experience in the development and manufacture of sterile dosage forms including solutions, suspensions, ophthalmics and freeze dried products. This book is based on the courses he has delivered for over three decades, to over 3000 participants, and is intended to remain relevant for the indefinite future even as new technologies and new applications of old technologies become common.

This is an ideal reference book for those working directly and indirectly with sterile dosage forms, be it product development (formulation, package, process, analytical), manufacturing, quality control, quality assurance, regulatory, purchasing, or project management. This book is also intended as an educational resource for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry and pharmacy schools, providing basic knowledge and principles in four main areas of parenteral science and technology:

• Product development, including formulation, packaging, and process development.
• Manufacturing, including basic teaching on all the primary unit operations involved in preparation of sterile products and the underlying importance of contamination control.
• Quality and regulatory, including the application of good manufacturing practice regulations, aseptic processing guidelines, and unique quality control testing methods for the sterile dosage form
• Clinical aspects, including administration, potential hazards, and biopharmaceutics of sterile products in a clinical setting.

Product Description
Computer systems have become an integral part of most companies. The newest of these is Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES), a technology that provides on-line application software that companies rely on to manage their manufacturing processes. Applying Manufacturing Execution Systems is the book for everyone who has theresponsibility of improving their company's manufacturing results. It shows how the current conditions on the plant floor can be optimized to improve production output using an integrated MES.Applying Manufacturing Execution Systems shows how MES benefits all types of manufacturing from discrete item production to process flow production. The concepts discussed are applicable in all production facilities where a number of variables, whether simple or complex, need to be considered in order to optimize production by effectively using the available resources of people, inventory, and equipment. The book emphasizes the application of MES in the real world of manufacturing that includes: ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent as the first book you read about MES
Well summarized, this book will get you to the point quickly. I wish there were case-studies more in detail. ... Read more

Product Description
Companies of all sizes are in a desperate race to remain competitive and profitable. Written with Lean implementers in mind, this book is designed to help companies and change agents apply the tools of Lean quickly. Much has been written about larger companies and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that implemented the Lean techniques perfected at Toyota within the last few decades. However, less attention has been offered addressing the special needs of smaller companies, job shops, and even "Mom and Pop" shops. While acknowledging some similarities, this book points out critical and distinct differences between OEM organizations and make-to-order environments. Hybrid methods of implementation for the Lean techniques are necessary and this book helps provide such an approach. The principles of the Toyota Production system are sound and proven. They are effective in any industry and within any company. The challenge is to apply the right tool, at the right pl!ace, at the right time, while maintaining the flexibility and nimble nature required of smaller shops. The steps outlined in this text will assist your organization reach the goals you have set for yourselves in terms of Delivery performance, Quality, and Cost. Book includes a CD-ROM that contains useful training tools, examples, and samples. Instructors can adapt visuals for classes or training. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Great book
love it, its the best that I have read in a long time

Lean Manufacturing for the Small Shop's Accompanying CD Usability
SME has distributed thousands of Gary Conner's book with its accompanying CD since it was first published in 2001. Many small shop owners have voiced their satisfaction with the CD-ROM's content, stating the material is very usable for training and practical purposes.

Since publication, only four individuals have voiced problems in using the CD. The problems have revolved around the CD not running if its contents are copied onto a hard drive. This is because the PDF files, which comprise the interface, require a special plug-in along with running Acrobat Reader(R) from the CD. The CD is designed to autorun. If you purchase the book and have problems running the CD, the collection of example files (comprised of Powerpoint[R] and Word[R] documents) can be easily accessed by viewing the CD's contents in Internet Explorer(R). The directory is X:\LeanSmallShopCD\LMS\LMSS\EXAMPLES (where X is the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive). This directory may be copied to a hard drive and is functional. Simply double click on a file name and it will open in its native program (Powerpoint or Word).

Another DISTRACTION in the Pursuit of Understanding LEAN
I am astonished that this publication would be recognized by the Shingo Prize Committee. I was originally optimistic about the contents based on the title. FOOLED AGAIN! The book is simply a collection of QUALITY based analysis and improvement tools, a few "war stories" and a very general discussion of LEAN tools and systems. [...] I have been a Lean Practitioner for over twenty years and have had the privilege of learning from some of the original teachers of Lean in the United States. "Lean for the Small Shop" is another of the flurry of textbooks recently published that offer very little in the way of useful information about how to successfully design and build a lean production system. Small shops really do need a simple and useful guide for understanding and implementing a lean system... "Lean for the Small Shop" is NOT that guide. If you are a company owner or President, I would recommend you start with "The Toyota Way" (the most enjoyable to read), "Lean Transformation" by Bruce A. Henderson or "Leading the Lean Initiative" by John W. Davis. If you are the "Lean Champion" in your company, read "Lean Production Simplified" by Pascal Dennis (the BEST introductory text that exists today) or "Running Today's Factory" as an introduction. The series of shopfloor guides by Productivity Press is also helpful for your first "baby steps". Beyond that, find a real lean "sensei". A great place to find one is at your state's "MEP" (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) Center.

Jerome Cook is Wrong!
First, let me say that Connor's book and files are great. My only complaint is with SME and their "user-hostle" CDR. For Jerome Cook to say that someone else didn't have problems, because HE didn't have problems is rediculous.

When I loaded the CD, I was presented with an Adobe Reader 4.0 installation screen. Since I already had Adobe Reader 5.1 on my machine, and since I knew that loading an older program over a newer program can cause all sorts of agravation, I refused to accept the install. It then kicked me out.

The next step was uninstalling Reader 5.1, loading the CD, and accepting the Adobe 4.0 software. At last I could access the files and all the SME promotional material, but only thru Adobe's Download software (sort of like the boy scout helping the little old lady across the street, when she didn't want to go).

A little snooping on the CDR, and I found all the Connor files under "E:\LMS\LMSS\Example". Now, I could download them to my hard drive, and use them as the author intended. Last, I went to Adobe, and downloaded the new Reader 6.0. Should I send SME a bill for the 1/2 hour I wasted getting around their "helpful" system?

Get the book, you won't be sorry!

2002 Shingo Prize Winner !
From the Author:

We are proud to announce that "Lean Manufacturing for the Small Shop" was honored by the Shingo Prize Committee this year (2002). Considered the Nobel Prize for manufacturing, the Shingo prize is named after the famed Japanese Engineer Shigeo Shingo credited for playing a key role in the turnaround of Toyota.

We hope that this book honors Mr. Shingo as well as the thousands of Agents of Change for Continuous Improvement who follow his lead. ... Read more

Product Description
Examining the ways in which social groups interact in themanufacturing of iceberg lettuce in the United States, the authors integrate theanalysis of social systems with a broader body of theory and research concernedwith agricultural production. ... Read more

Product Description
Revised and updated introduction, useful as a reference source for engineers and managers or as a text for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in technical colleges and universities. Includes end-of-chapter questions (an answer book is provided for teachers). Annotation copyright Book New ... Read more

Product Description
Suicide bombings have become a terrifyingly familiar feature of contemporary warfare and insurgency. But explanations of such attacks are typically either too narrow or too superficial to enable us to understand—and thus combat—this complex and deadly phenomenon.

In this slim but remarkably balanced, informative, and insightful volume, Mohammed Hafez delves beneath the surface as he explores the case of Palestinian suicide bombers during the al-Aqsa intifada that began in 2000. Drawing on extensive research in the West Bank and Israel, Hafez reveals an intricate web of factors that fueled the campaign of suicide attacks. To understand the bombings, he argues, we must examine the interrelation among the motives of the individual “martyrs,” the calculations of the organizations that deployed them, and the attitudes of a victimized society. This approach yields not only a penetrating look at suicide bombers but also policy-relevant lessons for dealing with extreme political violence in places such as Iraq, Chechnya, and Afghanistan.

Highly readable, wonderfully concise, and packed with useful information, Manufacturing Human Bombs offers students an excellent introduction to its subject; for readers already well versed in terrorism and the Middle East, the volume offers a rare combination of rich empirical data, considerable analytical breadth and depth, and refreshing evenhandedness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The latest research focused on the palestinian suicide bombing campaings
Dr. Hafez focuses in the intifada campaign of suicide bombing for his research on motives for suicide bombers.He outlined the motives of the organization's that prepare, support and dispatch the bomber. The community/societal motives for support the campaigns is also analyzed.Since I have read the majority of the reference use by the author, I need to say that his work is a valuable one for this issue, easily read, short and precise,and useful framework.

An insightful and chilling study of the Palestinian suicide bombers during the Al-Aqsa intifada
Knowledgeably written by Mohammed M. Hafez (Visiting Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Missouri, Kansas City) Manufacturing Human Bombs: The Making Of Palestinian Suicide Bombers is an insightful and chilling study of the Palestinian suicide bombers during the Al-Aqsa intifada that began in the year 2000 and continues to be a primary weapon among Islamic fundamentalists. Providing western readers with an in-depth understanding of the deaths, war, killings, and reasoning and rationale to these terrifying and seemingly indiscriminate attacks, Manufacturing Human Bombs creates an intricate detailing of Middle East mentality, lifestyle, honor, and progression of those who elect to become suicide bombers and those who elect to employ them. Manufacturing Human Bombs is very highly recommended reading to all students of the Middle Eastern culture, the suicidal extremes of the bombers themselves, the attitudes of the victimized society that breeds them, and the issues surrounding phenomena of suicide bombers in countries such as Iraq, Israel, Chechnya, and Afghanistan.

An insightful and chilling study of the Palestinian suicide bombers during the Al-Aqsa intifada
Knowledgeably written by Mohammed M. Hafez (Visiting Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Missouri, Kansas City) Manufacturing Human Bombs: The Making Of Palestinian Suicide Bombers is an insightful and chilling study of the Palestinian suicide bombers during the Al-Aqsa intifada that began in the year 2000 and continues to be a primary weapon among Islamic fundamentalists. Providing western readers with an in-depth understanding of the deaths, war, killings, and reasoning and rationale to these terrifying and seemingly indiscriminate attacks, Manufacturing Human Bombs creates an intricate detailing of Middle East mentality, lifestyle, honor, and progression of those who elect to become suicide bombers and those who elect to employ them. Manufacturing Human Bombs is very highly recommended reading to all students of the Middle Eastern culture, the suicidal extremes of the bombers themselves, the attitudes of the victimized society that breeds them, and the issues surrounding phenomena of suicide bombers in countries such as Iraq, Israel, Chechnya, and Afghanistan.

An insightful and chilling study of the Palestinian suicide bombers during the Al-Aqsa intifada
Knowledgeably written by Mohammed M. Hafez (Visiting Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Missouri, Kansas City) Manufacturing Human Bombs: The Making Of Palestinian Suicide Bombers is an insightful and chilling study of the Palestinian suicide bombers during the Al-Aqsa intifada that began in the year 2000 and continues to be a primary weapon among Islamic fundamentalists. Providing western readers with an in-depth understanding of the deaths, war, killings, and reasoning and rationale to these terrifying and seemingly indiscriminate attacks, Manufacturing Human Bombs creates an intricate detailing of Middle East mentality, lifestyle, honor, and progression of those who elect to become suicide bombers and those who elect to employ them. Manufacturing Human Bombs is very highly recommended reading to all students of the Middle Eastern culture, the suicidal extremes of the bombers themselves, the attitudes of the victimized society that breeds them, and the issues surrounding phenomena of suicide bombers in countries such as Iraq, Israel, Chechnya, and Afghanistan.

An insightful and chilling study of the Palestinian suicide bombers during the Al-Aqsa intifada
Knowledgeably written by Mohammed M. Hafez (Visiting Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Missouri, Kansas City) Manufacturing Human Bombs: The Making Of Palestinian Suicide Bombers is an insightful and chilling study of the Palestinian suicide bombers during the Al-Aqsa intifada that began in the year 2000 and continues to be a primary weapon among Islamic fundamentalists. Providing western readers with an in-depth understanding of the deaths, war, killings, and reasoning and rationale to these terrifying and seemingly indiscriminate attacks, Manufacturing Human Bombs creates an intricate detailing of Middle East mentality, lifestyle, honor, and progression of those who elect to become suicide bombers and those who elect to employ them. Manufacturing Human Bombs is very highly recommended reading to all students of the Middle Eastern culture, the suicidal extremes of the bombers themselves, the attitudes of the victimized society that breeds them, and the issues surrounding phenomena of suicide bombers in countries such as Iraq, Israel, Chechnya, and Afghanistan.

... Read more

Product Description
This workbook/textbook has been newly updated to supply the basic mathematical skills and applications encountered in the workplace by manufacturing technicians. Practical exercises are presented in clear, easy-to-follow steps, offering a systematic approach to mastering essential mathematical skills. This new edition highlights critical thinking, to train students on the "how tos" of problem solving. ALSO AVAILABLEINSTRUCTOR SUPPLEMENTS CALL CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO ORDER Instructor's Guide, ISBN: 0-8273-6711-2 ... Read more

Product Description
According to the NACFAM (National Council for Advanced Manufacturing –USA) Sustainable Manufacturing is defined “as the creation of manufactured products that use processes that are non-polluting, conserve energy and natural resources, and are economically sound and safe for employees, communities, and consumers.” The book covers Sustainable Manufacturing techniques such as materials and manufacturing for renewable energies; clean manufacturing technology; ecological manufacturing; energy-efficient manufacturing; remanufacturing; recycling of materials; environmentally conscious design and manufacturing processes; sustainable advanced manufacturing systems; manufacturability in sustainable product design; education and training for sustainable manufacturing.
... Read more

Product Description
For middle managers, engineers, and quality assurance and design staff members, here's how to solve real-life problems on the factory floor more quickly--often without having to shut down the production line. Twenty-one fascinating case histories, covering a wide range of manufactured products, show how the process can be applied successfully to a variety of situations. ... Read more

Product Description

Japanese productivity and quality standards have fired the imagination of American managers, but until now there has been little explanation of how to do it -- how to apply Japanese methods at the actual operating level of U.S. manufacturing plants.

This book shows you how, exposing otherwise well-informed westernized readers to a new world of management ideas. Author Richard J. Schonberger demonstrates that the Japanese formula for success is based on a number of specific, interrelated techniques -- stunning in their simplicity -- and he shows how these techniques can be put to work in American industries today.

Here, in a clear, handbook format, are nine "lessons" for American manufacturers, introducing scores of techniques aimed at simplifying the overly-complex purchasing, inventory, assembly-fine, and quality-control processes of U.S. firms.

At the heart of Japanese manufacturing success are two overlapping strategies: "just-in-time" production and "total quality control." Some American manufacturers already know a little about these methods, but Richard Schonberger provides the most comprehensive description of these techniques available: how they developed, how they all fit together, why they are so potent, and how they "snowball" -- unleashing a powerful chain reaction of productivity and quality control improvements each time more simplification is introduced.

Japanese Manufacturing Techniques will change the way you think. Much of the received wisdom of American management -- "just-in-case" order quantities, statistical sampling for quality Control, and large inventory buffer stocks, for example -- is dismissed by the Japanese as muri, muda, mura: excess, waste, unevenness. In many cases, the Japanese technique is exactly the opposite of American practice ("just-in-time" ordering, quality control at the source, and elimination of buffer stocks altogether).

By emphasizing practical techniques, Schonberger shows how you can implement new methods right away -- without waiting for government policy or market conditions or worker behavior to change. The techniques themselves will improve your productivity and quality, provide strategic advantages in gaining market share, and transform worker behavior. And the author backs his nine lessons with concrete examples of how Japanese techniques are being applied in U.S. plants today.

Nearly 20 tables and figures illustrate the "lessons" given here, and a special appendix describes in full the Toyota-developed kanban inventory system, with the first explanation in English of single-card versus dual-card kanban.

This remarkable book carries you beyond theories and concepts. It's for practical managers who want results: better quality control and greater productivity. Implement these simple steps, and you can begin improving your division's performance now. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A lucid, slightly dated introduction to JIT and TQC
I was lead to this book by a friend who had fueled my curiosity about just-in-time management methods. This is book is an extremely lucid introduction to the Just-in-Time (JIT) philosophy of Japanese manufacturers and also Total Quality Control (TQC). The author explains why and how Japanese techniques like JIT and TQC yield economic, motivational and processual benefits.

The author shows how inventory reduction with input control for quality leads to a long-term benefits in terms of shorter lead time, flexible workers; lower inventory costs; lower storage space; lower marketing costs etc.

He also explains plant configurations and organization of production lines that facilitate these improvements; the kanban or pull-system of inventory replenishment in the assembly line; quality control circles and just in time purchasing.

While some JIT and TQC principles are more applicable to the manufacturing sector many insights can also be transplanted to government and service sectors if the reader builds parallel connections. For example plant configuration design has interesting insights to offer for office workspace design.

On the flip side, the author's enthusiasm for kanban (card-based singalling for material/resource/inventory replenishment) against computer-based material requirements management (MRP) solutions may not seem very prophetic (this book was written in 1982). The author also has a convert's Polyanna enthusiasm. ... Read more