This Introduction to Manufacturing focuses students on the issues that matter to practicing industrial engineers and managers. It offers a systems perspective on designing, managing, and improving manufacturing operations. On each topic, it covers the key issues, with pointers on where to dig deeper.
Unlike the many textbooks on operations management, supply chain management, and process technology, this book weaves together these threads as they interact in manufacturing. It has five parts:
- Getting to Know Manufacturing: Fundamental concepts of manufacturing as an economic activity, from manufacturing strategy to forecasting market demand
- Engineering the Factory: Physical design of factories and processes, the necessary infrastructure and technology for manufacturing
- Making Information Flow: The "central nervous system" that triggers and responds to events occurring in production
- Making Materials Flow: The
