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How to manufacture a process: Book reviews

For your chance to win one of these valuable manufacturing and process engineering texts, read the following book reviews and answer the simple question at the end.

DIMENSIONAL MANAGEMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE INTRODUCTION

Mark Curtis

ISBN 9780831130732

INDUSTRIAL PRESS

$83

A complete treatise on the subject of dimensional management, this book is designed to provide the reader with a comprehensive systems approach to all facets of dimension and tolerance development, analysis, inspection and documentation.

Often referred to as ‘dimensional management’, this systems approach focuses on optimising the interchangeability of multi-component manufactured products — and it demonstrates that through the detailed description of known manual and computer-aided tolerance analysis techniques, an understanding of manufacturing variation and the mitigation of its undesirable effects can be achieved.

University-level engineering and technology students and working professionals involved in the design and manufacture of precision parts and assemblies will find this text an invaluable resource.

Dimensional Management provides a complete treatment of all aspects of dimensioning and tolerancing as it relates to the design and manufacturing, and contains more than 125 detailed illustrations and tables throughout.

The text features an entire chapter devoted to state-of-the-art computer-aided tolerance techniques, and comes with a CD-ROM that demonstrates a family of Sigmund software products through a detailed user-friendly Power Point presentation. These proprietary computer-aided tolerancing products were developed and are sold by Varatech Engineering Consultants in the United States, and are well-known in the industry as refined and powerful software.

A comprehensive chapter is included on GD&T as specified in the national dimensioning and tolerancing standard, ASME Y14.5M 1994.

LEAN MANUFACTURING: IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES THAT WORK

John Davis

ISBN 9780831133856

INDUSTRIAL PRESS

$70

Divided into three basic sections, this resource provides an understandable and implementable approach to inserting ‘lean’ in a manufacturing operation, pointing out the stumbling blocks and pitfalls to avoid. Its goal is to assist global manufacturing to more effectively go about the task of making ‘lean’ a viable process.

The significance of the work is that, if followed, it could change the entire course of how ‘lean manufacturing’ is implemented and help manufacturing, in general, to become more competitive on a world wide scale, the author claims.

The first section addresses the typical difficulties that manufacturing operations have with the implementation of lean manufacturing — pointing to three basic issues which, if addressed and resolved, could serve to move the process forward in a much more rapid and effective manner.

The second section focuses on how to fully resolve the issues noted and details four levels of lean implementation and how they can be measured, in terms of progress.

The third section deals with the more advanced aspects of lean manufacturing, including such things as how to engage administrative and supporting functions in the process (including accounting, materials, sales and marketing); how and why to perform a core process analysis (in order to decide which processes should be considered for outsourcing); how to incorporate ‘owner-operators’ in the process; and the importance of 18-month rolling implementation plans.

It is aimed at high-level manufacturing executives and leadership at a factory level, as well as students in a manufacturing and industrial engineering curriculums.

Question: Which areas of professionals will find Dimensional Management: A Comprehensive Introduction useful?

Email you answer to sarah.falson@reedbusiness.com.au

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