general

I like this book and think it should be in the hands of every manufacturing engineer. Most of the classical manufacturing subjects for example materials technology is treated, but also modern subjects like computer integrated manufacturning systems and automation. As far as I can see it is updated with the latest research and engineering practice.

This is one of 2 books that captures the essence of a manufacturing management (or industrial engineering) engineering undergraduate degree- the other being an operations management text from Ray Wild, Nigel Slack, or Laurie Mullins. To help get an idea of what being a manufacturing engineer involves, prospective students should envision a dose of intense team & individual industry-based change projects, and striving globally competitive companies to add "seasoning" to these books. The broad 'technology' contents are useful for industry veterans, consultants, and undergraduate students alike, as well as being a good starting point for researchers.

Over 1000 pages of richly detailed and illustrated yet concise contents span:

* materials properties- metals, behaviour & testing, properties, alloys, production of steels, non-ferrous production, plastics, ceramics, and composites.

* metal casting processes and equipment- fundamentals, processes, and design & economics.

*forming and shaping processes and equipment- rolling, forging, extrusion and drawing, sheet-metal forming, powder metallurgy, forming & shaping plastic & composites, forming & shaping ceramics & glass.

* material removal processes and machines- cutting, tolls & fluids, round-shape processes, various-shape processes, machine tools and economics, abrasive processes & operations, and non-traditional processes.

* joining processes and equipment- oxyfuel & arc & resistance welding, solid-state welding, metallurgy, brazing/soldering & mechanical joining processes.

* surface technology- characteristics & measurement, tribology, surface treatment, fabrication of microelectronics,

* common aspects of manufacturing- metrology, testing and quality assurance, human factors and safety.

* manufacturing in a competitive environment- automation, integrated systems, competition and economics.

The strengths include the vast amount of detail, illustrations, references and exercises to embed learning; broadness yet correctness of content; and many examples of industrial application and usefulness for industry. An updated version, with further additions on latest technologies, process control, and systems analysis/simulation & change management, would address the only weakness of the text (the section on competitive environment manufacturing). Thoroughly recommended as a reference and how-to book in manufacturing (suspect latest version even better!)

[Refers to first edition 1989 ISBN 0201128497]

this book contains all the information ever needed by a mechanical production engineer. it is a usful addition to all libararies.