| | |  | General Improvement | Home » » » New Manufacturing Challenge: Techniques for Continuous Improvement | | | | | | | Description: | | As a consultant, Kiyoshi Suzaki has helped scores of Fortune 500 clients improve manufacturing operations and get the job done faster, cheaper, better, and safer. Now, in this detailed "operating manual" -- full of more step-by-step applications than any other book available -- Suzaki spells out new options in production and employee resources that can help American industry regain the cutting edge in price, quality, and delivery of products. A well-known expert in the field, Suzaki begins with the premise that "if it doesn't add value, it's waste" -- a concept devised by Henry Ford and later used by Toyota. He recaps what Toyota identifies as the seven most prominent forms of waste in factories. Most importantly, he meticulously details steps individuals can take to "simplify, combine, and eliminate operations" -- thereby reducing waste, improving quality, and saving money. Describing in detail the basic techniques culled from Japanese industrial philosophy and procedure, Suzaki shows how small, family-run businesses and billion-dollar American corporations from a wide range of industries -- automotive, electronics, cosmetics, and even defense contractors -- are meeting the manufacturing challenge today -- demolishing the widely held belief that most American manufacturers have become distribution organizations for products manufactured overseas. In addition, he links his methodology with several successful production systems, from Just-In-Time Production, Total Quality Control, Total Productive Maintenance to Computer Integrated Manufacturing. Throughout this practical handbook, he places emphasis squarely on the shop floor and grounds his approach in easy, yet powerful techniques everybody can understand and implement today. Illustrated with numerous charts and exhibits, The New Manufacturing Challenge shows how to integrate people and techniques to improve the workplace and, thus, strengthen any company's competitiveness in the global marketplace. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Kiyoshi Suzaki | | Hardcover:
| 255 pages | | Publisher:
| Free Press | | Publication Date:
| July 22, 1987 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0029320402 | | Product Length:
| 9.57 inches | | Product Width:
| 6.32 inches | | Product Height:
| 1.01 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.98 pounds | | Package Length:
| 9.2 inches | | Package Width:
| 6.4 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.1 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.0 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 10 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 10 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 found the following review helpful:
 Great book, balances concepts and details very nicelyMar 08, 1999
By Robert J Krausert
Anybody interested in reducing manufacturing cycle times should read this book (among others) to get some great examples of what can be done. It has many very specific examples and strong fundamental concepts. Very easy to read as well.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
5 stars plusMay 17, 2001
By J. head
This is THE book for hands-on actual implementation of lean production techniques. This book answers the difficult problems accompaning implementation of the Toyota Production System. It is written in an easily understood straight-forward style. In my opinion this is the best book on boosting shopfloor efficiency. It does not shy away from discussing the problem areas. The author proves he has "been there and done it". An example is the Kanban system usually described in most books as a sytem where cards control the shop floor work flow. This book describes in detail various Kanban systems to handle the situations where the work flow is interrupted by processes requiring outside vendors or where an operation such as heat treating will slow the process. I rated this book five stars because it discusses real problems and solutions.
10 of 10 found the following review helpful:
One of the Best on the Toyota Production SystemsMar 10, 1998
The book covers the basic concepts often associated with Toyota Production System. Suzaki takes it one step farther by adding his own creativity and experiences as a lean manufacturing consultant. This is one of the best and most inspirational books I have read on the subject of continuous improvements. ~ Rhett A. Cooper
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
The Classic that transcended the timeAug 18, 2003
I still go back to this now a classic to get the sense out of it. There are many techniques, ideas, but more importantly, it points the appreciation of people engaged in the process of continuous improvement as a core to drive us to move forward. Whatever way people may call this stuff, the person who discovered the principle of improvement cannot but to move on in his life for the betterment.By the way, there is a 3.5hour video correponding to this book still available at SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers). Read the book, share the examples, confirm the principle, practice the heartbeat of improvement, and keep on moving forward. Good luck!
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Moment of reflectionJul 04, 2009
By suzakico
"Kiyoshi Suzaki"
As the author of this book, I hope it is ok to rate this with five stars - the book which have been sold more than 100,000 copies in the last 22 years.
I wrote this book, triggered by the comment which is found on page 226: (In) the book In Search of Excellence, a GM worker, laid off after sixteen years of service in the Pontiac Division, was quoted: "I guess I got laid off because I make poor quality cars. But in sixteeen years, not once I ever asked a suggestion as to how to do my job better. Not once."
More than two decades went by. Now, the Pontiac brand is gone, and GM is in bankruptcy/government bail-out.
I realize that the book may be seen old and nothing but commonsense. Even the title may appear unfit. Yet, isn't it still valid to think that there is wisdom to be captured at the shop floor, and "act" accordingly not losing the genuine spirit of the New Manufacturing Challenge.
Thank you, and best wishes!
Kiyoshi Suzaki
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