Concurrent Engineering

Concurrent Engineering http://cer.sagepub.com/ Book Reviews : Basic Cost Engineering−−Third Edition, Edited by Ken K. Humphreys and Paul Wellman; Published by Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, NY, 1996 360 pages ISBN 0-8247-9670-5 Biren Prasad Concurrent Engineering 1996 4: 99 DOI: 10.1177/1063293X9600400111 The online version of this article can be found at: http://cer.sagepub.com/content/4/1/99.3.citation

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Book Reviews Engineering Methods for Robust Product Design—Using Taguchi Methods in Technology and Product Development, Authored by William Y. Fowlkes and C. M. Creveling ; Published by Addison Wesley Publishing Company,

good illustrations of the techniques and the reader to practice the method. are

can

be

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performed by

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Biren Prasad

EDS/General Motors

©1995

403 pages ISBN 0-201-63367-1 Publication: August 1995

TQM to Product Design and Development, Authored by Marvin A. Moss; Published by Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY ©1995 440 pages ISBN 0-8247-9677-2

Applying This book offers simple, yet effective, guidelines on how to practice robust design in the context of a total quality development effort. In these pages, the fundamental metrics of quality engineering are fully developed, and the rationale behind them is explained. Designing low-cost solutions as a requirement, the book discusses the impact of robust design on the cost of a design, as well as how cost and quality can be co-optimized using Dr. Taguchi’s Quality Loss Function. The fundamental statistical tools (e.g., design of experiments, analysis of variance, and analysis of interactions) are explained. Chapter 1 is organized to provide a broad introduction to Quality Engineering and to establish the fundamental concepts needed to build the reader’s understanding for work presented in later chapters. The rest of the book is presented in three major parts. The first is an introduction to Quality Engineering Metrics. It consists of Chapters 2 through 6. Robust Design is a data driven process. Chapter 2 goes through Introductory Data Analysis for Robust Design and is presented to establish a context for how data will be treated throughout the rest of the book. Chapter 3 presents the theory and derivation of the various forms of the Quality Loss Function. An application of the quality loss function to tolerance design is also included. Chapter 4 presents the fundamental knowledge behind the Signal-to-Noise Ratio. The static and dynamic signal-to-noise ratios are fully discussed with numerous examples in Chapters 5 and 6, respectively. The second part delves into the details of the parameter design process with a special emphasis on achieving additivity. Additivity is a property of a design that reduces harmful interactions, thus simplifying the optimization process. Chapter 7 is a practical Introduction to Designed Experiments. Without the use of designed experiments, the process of optimizing a product becomes a time consuming endeavor laced with rework and unwanted surprises due to interactions. Chapter 8 is focused on a thorough discussion concerning the Selection of the Qualtiy Characteristics. The third and final part of the book is geared toward the engineering practitioner who is interested in more advanced techniques of Robust Design. Chapter 15 provides the necessary information to allow the engineering team to modify arrays to aid in the optimization of unique cases of parameter design. This book is intended to be useful for teaching and learning the principles and practices of robust design. Chapter 13 demonstrates the parameter design process by covering, in detail, three examples that are actually used as workshop problems by the authors during courses in robust design at the Rochester Institute of Technology and at Eastman Kodak Company. These simple examples

This book defines Total Quality Management (TQM), explains how TQM evolved to be what it has become, and shows how to apply its methodologies to product design and development in the most cost-effective manner. ~

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shows how TQM methods are applicable to the delivery of services as products, as well as to hardware items and hardware/software systems explains the Statistical Quality Control tools most useful to the

TQM practitioner ~

~

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details the flowchart method for

procedures management describes that converting

an

implementing

processes and

organization completely

to

TQM

necessitates a drastic transfer of authority downward, thereby incurring what may be intolerable risks; sets forth an alternative two-stage TQM implementation strategy that will enable management to limit the extent of the conversion to an acceptable level identifies the design-controlled product quality attributes and classifies them as being either application specific (e.g., performance) or generic (service life, life-cycle cost of ownership, reliability, maintainability); explains how to measure each and describes how to compare them in trade-off studies. describes the operating procedures and data entry forms for compiling product systems analysis results and problem/failure reporting test data; illuminates these procedures with practical examples; demonstrates how this information is used in performing reliability growth management and mainte-

nance/logistic support planning. Biren Prasad EDS/General Motors

Engineering—Third Edition, Edited by Ken K. Humphreys and Paul Wellman; Published by Marcel Dekker

Basic Cost

Inc., New York, NY, 1996 360 pages ISBN 0-8247-9670-5 In the third edition of Basic Cost Engineering, a chapter has been added to discuss estimating of retrofit and expansion projects in existing, operating plants. The portions of the book dealing with factored estimating have been expanded.

99

100 While estimating principles as discussed in this book do not vary with location, cost information, labor productivity, construction conditions, taxation, etc., do vary drastically from nation to nation. The third edition provides some reference sources for international cost data. Sections of the book on profitability analysis, risk analysis, and sensitivity analysis have also been revised and expanded. The discussion covers the life cycle cost analysis. A new bibliography has been included that cites reference works, journals, and conference proceedings. Throughout the book numerous problems and questions have been added for the benefit of students and educators. A solutions manual is available for use by college and university professors. Computers are vital tools in cost engineering work, but this book is not a guide to computer applications. The book explains and teaches the fundamental aspects of cost estimating. It does not

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the principles upon which a continuous flow factory is based the operating rules that create an environment in which a continuous flow factory will flourish actions to be taken in preparation for modernization technology and systems required to automate and integrate a continuous flow factory processes for justifying the capital investment, approving modernization proposals, and monitoring implementation a methodology for modernizing an existing facility into a continuous flow factory

Although this book reflects many of Caterpillar’s experiences, it is not a case study. It is a review of the principles of continuous flow manufacturing and the management strategies that drive these principles. Biren Prasad EDS/General Motors

explain computer applications. Biren Prasad EDS/General Motors

Continuous Flow Manufacturing: Quality in Design and Processes, Authored by Pierre C. Guerindon; Published by Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY ©1995 296 pages ISBN 0-8247-9655-1, This book was written to inform and educate readers about continuous flow manufacturing, a concept being applied by leading companies around the world. In presents a discussion of the topic

including: o

business initiatives that compete with and tinuous flow strategy

Total Engineering Quality Management, Authored by Ronald J. Cottman; Published by ASQC Quality Press and Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY ©1993 134 pages ISBN 0-8247-8740-4. This book

the concept of Total Engineering Quality manual This discusses how the Total Quality ManManagement. agement (TQM) of the production and manufacturing environment can be modified, implemented, and measured within the en-

explores

gineering project environment-integrating predominant quality philosophy with organization research. This is presented in 8 chapters

of this book. -

complement

a con-

Biren Prasad

EDS/General Motors