Manufacturing Books

There's a reason why Carl Dair's book has been continuously in print since it was first published in the '50s. It's one of the best introductions to the idea of contrast in design: contrast of size, contrast of weight, contrast of position, and so on. And it's visually inspiring itself, despite being a small, square, one- and two-color volume. Recent printings have unpleasantly tight bindings, but it's still a classic, and one of the best available tools for typographic design.

Unlike other books I have come across, this title is worthy of being on the shelf. More visual examples could have been shown but I say this because I enjoy looking at pictures. The text in this book is definately valuable. $25 is a fair price I'd say.

For some reason Canada seems to produce spectacular typographic writers. I'd never read this book before, but encountering it for CDN5.00 a few years back, I figured I may as well pick it up. Good decision. It's a very well-written book indeed.

The title really says it all - delivered really quickly and in great condition.

This is a great book. I reccomend it to anyone who is interested in the history of the leather industry, or who is interested in getting into leather crafts. It is very informative and gives you an idea on what kinds of tools are used in leather work and how they are used. It makes a great reference source. It givr you an idea on what kinds of tools you'll need for the differnt kinds of leather trades.

Look at all the nifty tools!

We just received our copy yesterday, and I expect my husband and I will be competing for it until one of manages to get through it from cover to cover. As the title implies, the author covers almost any tool you could think of used for leather working in the last 2.5 centuries, including things like workbences and stools. :) The book is arranged by trade - bookbinding, boot and shoe making, skinningk, tanning, finishing, etc, with the tools alphabetical by general type within each trade. Some of the descriptions are very brief, and the author spends more time in explanations of how more obscure tools are/were used than for common ones - which makes sense. Definitely enjoyable for the confirmed tool junkie.

I highly recommend this book to anyone planning to go into die design. It is extremely thorough and up to date. More importantly, it not only explains how a die works but it also helps in the designing process. It takes you through a step by step process and each chapter is dedicated to a part of the die i.e., the punch, the die, the stripper plate, pilots, types of die processes, die buttons, front and back rails, etc. For those already in the field, it helps to have this book handy.

an excellent book for engineers or technicians with no experience in die design. This sets you up for a new and another dimension in the world of tool and dies. It is worth having one in the shelf.

Great book for beginners. This book is essential material if you want to go in this field and learn about Die Design. I would definitely recommend it as a starter. Very good indeed!

This is a wonderful book about the fabulous dolls and accessories of the 1950s. It has lots of photos and complete descriptions and something for everyone. It is comprehensive and a "must" for collectors of this era- perfect for research or simply enjoyment and a trip down memory lane. Well done! Keep the books coming!

A profusely illustrated title, loaded with information on dolls, their clothing, and all the accutrements necessary for their comfort and care, is an absolute "must-have" for any doll lover, of any age. Whether simply browsing for pleasure, or seriously researching, Dolls And Accessories of the 1950's, makes a grand bedside, coffee table, or studio desk, library addition.

I bought this book to match the clothes that I buy at garage sales and auctions to the dolls that I own and to make sure that any dolls I'm considering are dressed in their original clothes,and I was not dissapointed.With over 500 color pictures and pictures of whole catalogue pages I have found this book to be the best in my library.Value guides are given in the description paragraph not forcing the reader to turn to a back page and search for a corresponding plate number,which I personally find annoying.I would highly recommend this book to any collector of 50' dolls.

This was and is one the best books ever written. While I was lost on the last couple chapters - the rest was so formulative. One has to remeber when this book was written - Fast product development and feature releases were 2-5 years. These guys revolutionized the working world during the Peters era. Where Tom Peter's reported and motivated - these guys showed you how to do it. I used this as my roadmap at the old Western Electric from 1989-1999. (After '99 they followed the Welcher-GE method) This is the genesis to the 5th discipline and almost all books today on concurrent engineering and Rapid Prototype Development (whether they admit it or not). A timeless classic that should be in every great library.

Dynamic Manufacturing is one of the earlier Clark/Wheelwright books on manufacturing and product development (the title is not suggesting it also covers product development, but it does). In my opinion, the book was way ahead of it's time and still, 20 years after it's publication, up-to-date and relevant and could have been written today!

The book consists of a couple of different parts, although they are not marked like that in the book itself (wonder why...):

- History (chapter 1)
- Metrics and organizational (chapter 2-5)
- Manufacturing improvements (chapter 6-9)
- Product Development (chapter 10-11)
- Next steps (chapter 12)

The history part alone is worth the book. It goes over the history of manufacturing in the US and in the world and shows that in 1988 the US manufacturing was in serious trouble, but that these troubles are similar to what the UK manufacturing went through in the beginning of the century. It has some pretty convincing data that something needed to be done. It would be nice to get an update related to this chapter alone.

The second part talks about investment planning and GAAP accounting practices and how they traditionally lead to the wrong investments and that being one of the key reasons for the lagging of the manufacturing industry. The next chapter talks about organizing manufacturing, problems and different models of solving that. The last chapter talks about measuring the manufacturing productivity and provides one productivity metric for doing so.

The thirds part describes the more concrete improvement to be done in the manufacturing. This part describes what is now known as lean manufacturing. In that sense, the book was ahead of its time since at the time the book was written, lean was still fairly unknown and new. It does great on summarizing some of the lean techniques and most importantly, ends with a chapter on people and continuous improvements.

The product development part is what later turned in their product development book "Revolutionizing product development". It introduces concepts like the "product funnel" and talks a lot about concurrent engineering. At the time the book was written, these concepts were very new and modern and this was one of the earlier books related to them, as far as I know.

As any book promoting new ideas, the last part talks about how to make the change happen. How to make the switch in mindset and where to start.

I thoroughly enjoyed Dynamic Manufacturing. Even though 20 years old, it still is relevant today. It was well written. Recommended to read, even in 2008.

The book is extremely refreshing and useful in terms of its different perspective from the conventional manufacturing management assumptions and theories, which still influence the America's management practices today. The book explores key manufacturing infrastructure issues such as capital budgeting, organization structure and performance measurement and demonstrates how these can affect, positively or negatively, the performance of the manufacturing companies in pursuing it sustainable competitive advantage over its competitors.

The book is well structured and the arguments are very consistent with one another. In analyzing different elements leading to a superior manufacturing organization,the importance of learning and adaptation to change are emphasized, while the difficulties of creating the new infrastructure that a company may encounter and the key role that management can play are also emphasized.

The points the authors propose are impressive using reliable case studies. For example, the case histories of the three presentative investment decisions that illustrate the problems with the modern capital budgeting paradigm are instrumental for better understanding. The calculations of total factor poductivity (TFP) for two contrasting products illustrate the TFP performance easurement technique convincingly. The tables and figures in each chapter, provided as further illustrations, also aid in generating neat and explicit explanations.

The author's treatment is complete since the book provides a great deal of information and shows today's managers why it is necessary and how to implement the fundamental changes if they want to create a world-class organization that builds a competitive advantage through manufacturing excellence. It is very comprehensive in addressing issues associated with creating and managing a dynamic, learning manufacturing organization at the corporation level and at the factory level. However, not all the technical details are provided in the sense that the book is more a "know-why" than "know-how" guidance.

The book is directed at managers throughout a manufacturing company, not just the management of the manufacturing function. In my opinion, capital investors, top management, manufacturing managers, project managers, industrial engineers, design engineers, and any other ambitious engineers in manufacturing companies should read this book carefully and keep in mind some insights and principles that the authors address in the book. As advocated by the authors, "learning is the bottom line".

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I love this book! This is THEE book on vintage Wilendur tablecloths and towels, some of the most beautiful vintage linens produced, as far back as the 1920's. Shows over 400 gorgeous pictures of tablecloths, towels, aprons, curtains and more, all produced by the Weil and Durrse company, the manufacturer of Wilendur and other brands. Lots of great information on the history of the company and information on all of their brand lines. Absolutely wonderful, very interesting book. Also recommended "Collectors Guide to Vintage Tablecloths" by Pamela Glasell.

The author provides a valuable resource for the collector, particularly for products of Weil & Durrse. Information on the companie's history is provided as well as current values based on condition. Fabrics, brands, colors and patterns are discussed and illustrated with the numerous photographs. Tablecloths are emphasised, but towels, aprons and other handicrafts are also covered. The author provides a useful chapter on storing and laundering linens as well. You will not be disappointed with the quality of the photographs, printing or insights offered in this volume. Highly recommended!

I take this book with me to antique shops and rummage sales. It's been a handy guide in identifying Wilendurs. So much fun!

This is the book! If you are the person in your organization who needs to get the job done, not just discuss the theory, then this is the book. The authors tell how a Lean Enterprise looks, how to get there and the pitfalls to look for along the way. They tell you where you will find the most benefit, and where you will find the money when you become a Lean company. It is readable, understandable and it is excellent. The pages in my copy are marked up in yellow, underlined and dog-eared. If you were afraid to try Lean before you read the book, you will put this down at the end thinking, "I must do this." And, having read the book, you will say, "And now I know how."

This is a very easy read but is packed with everything you need to know to go through the lean transformation AND avoid the mistakes many make.

I would highly recommend this book!

I have just finished this book and it is excellent! This is not just another book on Lean. This is an indictment of executives, managers and concrete heads in organizations that aspire to mediocrity.

These authors have obviously been in the trenches and understand what most of us go through as we try to implement this process. There is great advice and hard-hitting commentary on why companies are failing to get the full benefits of Lean. Check out the Lean Math Chapter where Offshore Outsourcing is compared to a Lean alternative.

Executives and managers have a huge responsibility and they are not (from what I exerience) living up to it. The authors explain why engagement is critical as well as commitment. Management should read this book and then ask themselves a lot of tough questions. Also, the whole discussion on education and institutionalization is right on the money.

This book shows why you need to change and how to do it. It focuses on the whole Enterprise and not just Manufacturing and explains why Lean is not a new fad and why it will not go away.

You are going Lean or you are not going anywhere, and this book shows why you need to do it before you are forced into it by your customers or your competition.

I hope these guys write another book. This is a breath of fresh Lean air.

If you want your organization to really be successful in EDM and PDM, read this book, it explains well all the principles. Its a good comprehensive introduction to Engineering Data Management and Engineering Workflow Management. Its a thorough text for serious EDM and PDM managers and others managing product data. Practical industry oriented chapters about engineering data, engineering workflow and EDM implementation. Technology and its vendors change fast, but the basic information and conclusions of this stands the test of time. Those responsible for managing CAD data may especially find this book useful. It aided me particularly in thinking about these potentially very complex subjects. Should be read with Rodger Burden's excellent 'PDM: Product Data Management' which moves the clock foward 10 yrs, and 'Product Lifecycle Management: Paradigm for 21st Century Product Realisation' from 'Engineering Information Management Systems' author John Stark, PLM Visionary, for the way PLM emerged from technologies like CAD, EDM and PDM. Recommended reading.

I found this book after reading Stark's Product Lifecycle Management book published in 2004, 13 years after this one. For me Stark's PLM book puts him up there as a leader among the PLM thoughtleaders and a principal visionary of PLM. I wanted to check out how accurate some of his preceding writings would be ten years on. In Engineering Information Management Systems he is writing mainly about Product Data Management software and workflow in the product development area. The book is clear, detailed, complete and useful nearly fifteen years after it was published. He had a clear view of what those systems could do a long time before they became a commonplace. On that basis the ideas in his PLM book could still be with us in 2020. A 2020 vision of PLM. I recommend reading this book. The basic facts are as relevant now as they were when published in 1992.

This is an old book dating from the late nineteen eighties, but has very good descriptions of the needs and reasons for edm systems (engineering data management systems, engineering document management systems, engineering drawing management systems.) As well as the needs and reasons, there are excellent descriptions of the functionality of these systems, and examples of them. The author also explains nicely how to do an implementation project. There are more recent books about product data management (Burden, Product Data Management) and product lifecycle management (Stark, Product Lifecycle Management: Paradigm for 21st Century Product Realisation) but this one is very good value for money, is a classic in the field, has a good description of the basics, and is one of the first to relate product data management to application systems like cad/cam and to working methods like concurrent engineering, and I recommend reading it.

I just completed this excellent work by W. Dale Compton, and enjoyed the entire experience. Compton provides excellent insight into diverse manufacturing organizations, their modern challenges, and engineering and managerial strategies for success. The book was written for engineering professions, and is essential for mid-level engineers making the career transition into executive management.

The common theme of book is based on solid engineering principles. There is no "fluff" or "filler" included in the text. Compton clearly illustrates realistic constraints and defines effective techniques for corrective action. I was very impressed with the manner in which Compton reiterates the value of accurate data collection, cross-functional teamwork, and the norms of manufacturing and engineering professionals. The author clearly has experience in core operations and manufacturing. I also appreciated his in-depth analysis and examples presented in each chapter appendix. I would recommend this book highly to any career manufacturing professional as a core desk resource.

I just completed this excellent work by W. Dale Compton, and enjoyed the entire experience. Compton provides excellent insight into diverse manufacturing organizations, their modern challenges, and engineering and managerial strategies for success. The book was written for engineering professions, and is essential for mid-level engineers making the career transition into executive management.

The common theme of book is based on solid engineering principles. There is no "fluff" or "filler" included in the text. Compton clearly illustrates realistic constraints and defines effective techniques for corrective action. I was very impressed with the manner in which Compton reiterates the value of accurate data collection, cross-functional teamwork, and the norms of manufacturing and engineering professionals. The author clearly has experience in core operations and manufacturing. I also appreciated his in-depth analysis and examples presented in each chapter appendix. I would recommend this book highly to any career manufacturing professional as a core desk resource.

The book describes in a detailed structure the elements surounding World Class Manufacturing. Through the different tools and strategies that the book explains, the manager of a manufacturing firm will be able to succeed in a very competitive world market. Some of the tools and strategies described include statistical and mathematical techniques, current manufacturing approoaches used in the world, Human Resources and group managing, setting strategic goals and objectives for the enterprise, leadership roles and the difficult task of managing the technology. The Author, distinguished Gilbreth Professor at Purdue University School of Industrial Engineering, uses his many years of experience in the manufacturing sector to communicate to future and current managers the different tools that help them create and manage a world class organization.

Wonderful Encyclopedia of Elephant Collectibles!
I have finally found a book exclusively for elephant collectibles This one is FANTASTIC! Over 1000 color images in 140 categories! I no longer have to wade through scrores of books to find one or two elephant collectibles I have. Virtually all the elephants have the basic information I am looking for (maker, size, value etc.) and many have much more. The index and resources sections are chock full of places, makers and artists so you canto find out more info. I understand Volume 2 is underway and I cannot wait for it.

I have looked for an elephant collectibles book for years and never found one. Now at last there is one for all collectors to enjoy. And this one is GREAT. Over 1000 color images in every category! With enough information about the vast majority to get a good idea of what is out there to collect and who made it. Some items have a great deal of historical information. The resources section is full of people, places, artists and websites to find out more info. Can't wait for volume 2! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Wonderful Encyclopedia of Elephant Collectibles!
I have finally found a book exclusively for elephant collectibles This one is FANTASTIC! Over 1000 color images in 140 categories! I no longer have to wade through scrores of books to find one or two elephant collectibles I have. Virtually all the elephants have the basic information I am looking for (maker, size, value etc.) and many have much more. The index and resources sections are chock full of places, makers and artists so you canto find out more info. I understand Volume 2 is underway and I cannot wait for it.