Business Process Improvement: The Breakthrough Strategy for Total Quality, Productivity, and Competitiveness

Book Description

It's one of the hot topics for the 1990s--how to apply quality improvement techniques originally developed for the manufacturing sector to service industries. How to Take the Lead in Business Process Management details how to do it, providing a step-by-step formula that helps companies improve quality and productivity in the support areas. Here in one comprehensive volume is all the information an organization needs to start the improvement process right away: how to determine customer needs and expectations and deliver the best service; how to establish which processes drive your business; how to create process improvement teams and train team leaders; how to eliminate bureaucracy, simplify the process, and reduce processing time; how to measure progress and provide feedback to participants; how to document the levels of improvement and certify operations and activities; and how to ensure ongoing improvement. Two special features further enahance the value of this highly practical guide: (1) a chapter of case histories, showing the results of business process improvement, and (2) an exhaustive section that guides readers in the application of problem-solving methods, value analysis and process analysis techniques, perfection analysis, work simplification programs, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Still Relevant and Valuable.......2007-02-09

I recently re-read this book, first published in 1991, and found that - despite all the changes which have occurred in the business world since then - most of its material remains solid and relevant. In the Preface, H. James Harrington observes that organizations "are thinking differently about their processes. Processes are no longer viewed as just production processes. Today (i.e. in 1991), management realizes that that there are many processes that use material, equipment, and people to provide many types of outputs and services. They are called business processes, and today they are even more important to competitiveness than production processes." In this context, I am reminded of what Peter Drucker asserted (in 1963) in an article which appeared in the Harvard Business Review: "There is surely nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency what should not be done at all." Presumably this is what Harrington has in mind when suggesting that "automating a bad process not only ensures that we can do a bad job every times but that we can do it faster and with less effort than before."

Harrington carefully organizes his material within ten chapters, followed by an appendix that provides "Interview Guidelines." His pragmatic approach throughout the narrative focuses on what to do to initiate and then sustain business process improvement (BPI):

Focus on business processes
Set the stage for BPI
Organize for process improvement
Use flowcharting to draw a process "picture"
Understand the process characteristics
Streamline the process
Use measurements, feedback, and action to "load, aim, and fire"
Qualify (i.e. establish credibility for) process
Benchmark process

For me, some of the most interesting and valuable material is provided in Chapter 5, "Understanding the Process Characteristics." Harrington identifies five (Flow, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Cycle Time, and Cost) and explains what must be done to get them in proper alignment (hence the importance of a flow chart) in terms of people involved, objectives to be achieved, strategies and tactics to be executed, measurements, evaluation, and modification.

As they embark together on a journey to achieve the desired objectives, they should realize that they will be involved in a marathon, not a sprint. They must be persistent but patient.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out sources which were published later, such as Dan Madison's Process Mapping, James R. Press's Process Improvement and Process Management, Process Improvement Essentials: CMMI, Six SIGMA, and ISO 9001, John Jeston and Johan Nelis' Business Process Management: Practical Guidelines to Successful Implementation, and Paul Harmon's Business Process Change: A Manager's Guide to Improving, Redesigning, and Automating Processes.

The quality: the best competitive tool!.......2005-07-21

In the actual times of constant, requiring and increasing professional improvement, you just have just only an alternative: to isolate yourself from the world: It's not an optional choice, but a question of surviving.
The leadership process must involve all the team under his service; otherwise your destiny is uncertain in the values market: your market share will vanish silently and if you don't act and react faster than the business dynamic, you will be out of game: I think the comparison may be established without any risk: the quality in the Darwinian environment will become in an additional gene to survive.
You do not have to think but living according this life system. This adaptation process has a hard barrier, the resistance to change: most of people live with this mental premise: the minimum effort and the maximum boring.
Arnold Toynbee wrote about the minority creators, that attitude does not sound challenging for any artistic activity, because the quality, conceived as one the main ingredients of the creative work is inherent in the inner process.
I wrote an article in the local press in 1996 named "Art and quality" (available for any one who is interested) in which I remarked this ineffable premise.
James Hillman stated once that the first enemy of the art is the mediocrity, and the quality process in last instance follows that change of behavior.
In this sense Harrington's text is a fundamental guide that explains step by step a wholesome creation process of a qualitative thinking, you will obtain the practice tools and the extreme useful basic elements available for any person.

Excellent Starting Point.......2004-09-04

This book was highly recommended to me and it did not dissappoint. Simple yet powerful practices and principles are clearly laid out in an easily understood manner. I now have a foundation to build upon with future readings on the subject of BPI.

More Info........1999-09-08

I rate it a 2 because it didn't give that much information. Some people just don't have enough money to go out and buy books. Especially young adults on a fixed income. When I come to the internet I expect to learn and read, not spend my money. Thank You

This is the essential Quality book........1999-07-20

This book is a great investement. This book explains much more than Business Process Improvement, it also breaks down the sub categories of Quality management into easy to digest pieces. Harrington makes the complex/theoretical Quality "mechanics" easy to understand. He explains today's business trends which can help any business become more productive.

Customer Reviews:

High quantity, but average quality.......2006-03-29

This book covers a huge amount of topics related to the automation, organisation and control of production systems.
I studied this book for a class, and I think that the quality of especially the quantative methods presented is only fair.

Besides that: the content on the automation- and controltopics, is way out of date.

Nice book (if you can buy it second hand), but money can buy better books new.

From a student point of view.......2000-10-09

Lacking important concepts from 1st edition that should have been in the chapters on production mathematical models. (Scrap, Time In Plant, etc.) Good descriptions of general machine automation processes. Good overview of NC, CNC machining, covering more in these chapters than some texts associated with only this topic. Good overview chapters of industrial robotics, PLC control and programming, in-plant material handling, manufacturing system schemes, assembly systems, quality control, Statisics, inspection and planning. Overall a very capable text. When coupled with a well developed laboratory, would be a text for a very complete college level Industrial Automation course.

comprehensive and informative.......2000-08-08

This books explains the fundamental principles as well as practical applications of computer-based manufacturing in a clear and effective manner. The illustrations complement the text well, and are worth the price of the book alone.

One of the best IE books.......1999-01-06

I sincerely believe that this book has been one of the best in its field. I just hope that Prof. Groover will publish another edition of this book reflecting the current changes in the manufacturing world.

Great book! Gives a global vision of automation........1998-03-14

This is a good book. It covers all the automation process of a factory. It gives to the reader a good idea on "how-to-do" and mainly the possibilities of what to do in your company. It is good to students and to the companies that want to get bigger and efficient. Unfortunatelly the programming examples are just little old(languages).

From Word to Image: Storyboarding and the Filmmaking Process

Average customer rating:

not much here
VALAUABLE FOR PREVIZ
A MUST READ
Informative and an easy read
Perfect Introduction to Filmmaking in General

From Word to Image: Storyboarding and the Filmmaking Process
Marcie Begleiter
Manufacturer: Michael Wiese Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0941188280

Book Description

Directors from Eisenstein to Spielberg have used storyboards to visualize their stories before production.

Customer Reviews:

not much here.......2007-06-12

All of what this book says could have been said in 5 or 6 pages. There are a few basic concepts the book covers that are worthwhile, but I found it to be heavily padded and very basic. A much better book is Profores' Film Directing Fundamentals, which comes at storyboarding and other visualization tools from a director's viewpoint, rather than an illustrator's.

VALAUABLE FOR PREVIZ.......2007-02-11

I found the book invaluable as it gives a great insight into the real world of storyboarding. I am a 3d previz artist trying to establish an economical previz solution to productions of smaller budgets.
I believe the traditional storyboard artist and illustrators are an integral part of the process of previz, all my 3d previz begin with boards all sketches.

I think this book is excellent for anyone wanting to tune their skills towards a professional storyboarding career.
tony
[...]

A MUST READ.......2006-10-27

I found this book an excellent read and a great tool. I write screenplays, so my characters have specific duties. This book helps me determine what the camera shots should look like (without having to direct the director, which is a big no-no in screen writing).

Informative and an easy read.......2005-05-09

Very informative and interested. The best book I have read on storyboarding. This book is a page turner with funny, real-life experienced stories at the end of each chapter. It explained clearly, in full detail how stoyboards are done and even got into perspective and technique. I learned a lot of important information that got me thinking about filmmaking on a whole new level. I have used what is detailed in this book for my short film. I highly recommend reading it before making a film or if you are going to be doing storyboards.

Perfect Introduction to Filmmaking in General.......2005-04-21

This is such a cool book for anyone interested in putting together a film. I am interested in directing and cinematography at the moment and this book taught me things that even my specialized textbooks didn't. It's easy to ready, and over before you know it. Feels good too.

Average customer rating:

Harold Linton, Chair / Department of Art & Visual Technology / GMU
Critique of The Critique Handbook
The Critique Handbook
The Critique Handbook
A terrific book!

The Critique Handbook
Kendall Buster , and Paula Crawford
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0131505440

Customer Reviews:

Harold Linton, Chair / Department of Art & Visual Technology / GMU.......2007-05-02

Way Cool! Proud to boast about this great project! Kendall Buster and Paula Crawford have tackled a very difficult and taboo subject with wit and wisdon, keen insight and thoughtfulness that transforms the culture of studio art education into a clear discussion of the artistry of creative presentation and all of the thinking, doing, and planning that support it. The authors unravel a mystery for art students to ingest that can only have positive impact on their the work. Artists who are eager for depth, breadth, and better ability to plan and present their ideas to others - this is a must read! The content is completely applicable to all art discipline areas. From painting to sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, design, photography - it cuts across all areas of the visual arts and binds the conceptual with the end product in an engaging discussion of the ways and means of creative evidence, philosophy, and discussion. An excellent required and affordable text for studio classes across the board! Harold Linton, Chair Art & Visual Technology, George Mason University.

Critique of The Critique Handbook.......2006-11-04

I am an adjunct photography professor at a private college. This book was used as a text for a joint workshop on The Critique for the art department of our school and another local college. Given the complexity of the subject matter, this book does a good job of covering the basics of an art school critique. I particularly appreciated the discussion regarding the role of faculty and the personal baggage we sometimes forget we can bring to the party. It's impossible to cover all the possible permutations of The Critique, but this book does a fine job of highlighting the peculiarities of several art disciplines and the details that should be addressed. It gives you a springboard to make the conversion even if your discipline isn't specifically covered.

If you teach art or hold critiques in your class, I believe you will find this book very helpful.

My only quibble is the type size for my aging eyes. Don't be fooled by the physical size of this book. It may be compact but it makes up for it with density.

The Critique Handbook.......2006-09-17

This is a well-written, insightful and important manual that every professor, teacher, curator, gallery owner, student and professional artist should have on their bookshelf. It IS extremely expensive, but worth every single dime. There is a million bucks worth of info between its covers! Run and place your order...I'm glad I did!

The Critique Handbook.......2006-06-30

This book is very specific about how to conduct a critique and how to survive one without becoming emotionally involved. Although it only discusses the traditional fine arts,i.e. painting and sculpture, the techniques involved can be easily adapted to othere less trasditional forms of art, i.e. fiber art or photography. A very good book.

A terrific book!.......2006-03-26

What a fantastic idea! How is it that something as essential and ubiquitous as the studio critique had not been examined in this way before? This book takes on the task brilliantly. "The Critique Handbook" is a wonderful mixture of how-to manual, theoretical analysis, irreverent debunker and basic gameplan. The authors' analysis of how to make the best use of the critique applies both to those giving the critique as well as to those receiving them. While students will find the book quite useful in learning how to negotiate the critique and find the best uses for the information presented to them there, professors and other professionals will also find much to think about in the authors' analysis of what makes a critique helpful and harmful. And, delightfully, the authors are not afraid to take on the sacred cows of the profession. Any art professor will appreciate the witty and deadly portraits of their colleagues sketched by Buster and Crawford in their analysis of the types that can be found in the artist's studio.

Drawing As Design Process: Courses, Themes and Projects at the Basel School of Design

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Drawing As Design Process: Courses, Themes and Projects at the Basel School of Design

Manufacturer: Arthur Niggli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3721203194

Average customer rating:

Well Done

High Integrity Die Casting Processes
Edward J. Vinarcik
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471201316

Book Description

"It's about time that a practicing engineer with casting and academic experience has written a book that provides answers to questions about squeeze casting and semi-solid molding/forming that many engineers and students of casting need answered."
—Joseph C. Benedyk, PhD, Consultant and retired technical director, Alcoa

High Integrity Die Casting Processes provides a comprehensive look at the concepts behind advanced die casting technologies, including vacuum die casting, squeeze casting, and several variants of semi-solid metalworking. Practical applications for these processes are illustrated in numerous case studies.

This single-source reference tool presents the latest material in five sections:

Basic concepts of die casting and molten metal flow
High integrity die casting processes with case studies
Product design considerations
Controlling quality and avoiding defects
Future advances under development

Key coverage includes a survey of liquid metal flow, strategies to overcome the limitations of conventional die casting, and potential defects unique to high integrity die casting processes. Also featured are methods for minimizing porosity, reducing cost by design, practical applied statistical process control techniques, designing for manufacturability, and containment methods for potential processing defects. Several chapters present detailed real-world examples illustrating the broad range of applications possible using high integrity die casting processes.

Included with this book is a CD-ROM containing PowerPoint(r) presentations for each chapter. These presentations can be used for training purposes in conjunction with numerous study questions designed to practically apply the content of the book to real-world situations. Selected PowerPoint(r) slides can be used to support engineering proposals, marketing presentations, or customer education seminars.

High Integrity Die Casting Processes is a valuable reference for both component producers and component users alike. Process engineers, tool designers, manufacturing engineers, production managers, and machine operators will acquire a better understanding of these advanced die casting processes to optimize manufacturing and improve product quality. Component designers, product engineers, purchasing agents, buyers, supplier quality engineers, and project managers will gain insight into these processes and develop superior products by design.

Customer Reviews:

Well Done.......2003-01-07

Eureka! Victor Ednarcik has put together a marvelous primer for the novice and an excellent handbook for the experienced engineer. My thanks to the author.

Basic Visual Concepts And Principles For Artists, Architects And Designers

Average customer rating:

Thanks a million
I give it an A...
Everything you know about design principles but forgot

Basic Visual Concepts And Principles For Artists, Architects And Designers
Charles Wallschlaeger , and Cynthia Busic-Snyder
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0697006514

Customer Reviews:

Thanks a million.......2007-10-02

The book has minor water damage(not a big deal) and arrived really fast. Thanks for getting it to me before my classes got crazy.

I give it an A..........2006-12-30

I needed this book for one of my college classes and the Amazon price was almost 3/4 cheaper then in the schools book store. This book was only used for about 3-4 months and from what I saw from the textbook... it was great. I learned a lot and I might keep it around just in case I need it for a future class. But overall, I give it an A...

Everything you know about design principles but forgot.......2000-01-02

Pros: A definite must-have book and recommended reading for designers, artists and teachers. Excellent for art teachers seeking project ideas for students in traditional art/design media, also provides a design refresher for teachers with students in digital media, as the principles apply to web, cd-rom and new media design (but not animation. However, there is a section on objects in 3D space).

This book covers key design principles and art techniques that you may have forgotten after art school.

Cons: A lot easier to read for precticing artists and designers; may be brain freeze to art students goggling at the compact knowledge. Not recommended reading unless student is mature enough/is in the higher years/is truly interested.

Initial impression based on format, book thickness and the language used may appear too stiff and seem like very heavy reading at first, specially to first time art educators. Read the book in topics you need in order to digest info better.

After a while the format becomes familiar, the information astoundingly clear/well researched and you realize the book was brilliantly organized. Eureka!

As with all art/design reference book collections, this makes a good backbone book that could be supplemented by others, as it cannot cover everything. Ex: For selecting/using type and organizing layouts try "The Non-Designer's Design Book" by Robin Williams, Peachpit Press. There's a web book version as well.

Book Description

"Drawing relies on a clear vision. It also requires thought which, in, turn, builds understanding. Drawing cannot be detached from seeing and thinking about the fundamental nature of the subject matter being represented. The knowledge and understanding gained through drawing from life directly enhances our ability to draw from the imagination. Just as thought can be put into words, ideas can be made visible in a drawing to promote visual thinking and further stimulate the imagination. Once what is seen or imagined is made visible in a drawing, the image takes on a life of its own and communicates graphically. However eloquently or crudely, all drawings, speak to the eye." From the Preface … Francis D.K. Ching

Customer Reviews:

Drawing: A Creative Process.......2000-08-31

Like the rest of Ching's books, this one is great as well. I use it as a resource for Drawing and illustration classes in college. It covers all the basics of sketching and drawing that are important to build a foundation for free-hand drawing. It covers everything from basic shapes and textures to gesture drawing and proportion. I also recomend the book "Design Drawing" by F. Ching.

Manuel Neri: Artist Books / The Collaborative Process

Average customer rating:

Sketchy illustrations, poetry, original sculptures and more are captured with color photography
collaboration in making limited edition art books

Manuel Neri: Artist Books / The Collaborative Process
Bruce Nixon
Manufacturer: Hudson Hills Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1555952593

Book Description

As a masterful sculptor and draftsman, Manuel Neri has always emphasized spontaneity, expression, and intuitive creativity as a hallmark of his art. This publication highlights Manuel Neri's most recent activity in this area--seven unique artist books that incorporate his original drawings and poetry by Pablo Neruda.

Customer Reviews:

Sketchy illustrations, poetry, original sculptures and more are captured with color photography.......2005-11-08

Manuel Neri: Artists' Books / The Collaborative Process is a display of artists' books by Manuel Neri in the Reva and David Logan Gallery of Illustrated Books of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. Sketchy illustrations, poetry, original sculptures and more are captured with color photography, revealing the intense and painstaking process of collaboration between author and artist. Three of the poetry books were written by Neri's primary model since 1972, Mary Julia Klimenko; other exhibitions include and introduction for a series of unique books that pair Neri's original drawings with poems by Pablo Neruda. A comprehensive essay by independent scholar and former editor-in-chief of "Artweek" Bruce Nixon rounds out this insightful look into the sublime intersection of verbal and visual imagery.

collaboration in making limited edition art books.......2005-10-17

Six books with Neri artwork in the Reva and David Logan Gallery of Illustrated Books at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco are covered in detail. The text of three of the books is poems by Mary Julia Klimenko. And three books of Neri's planned project of seven books with poems by Pablo Neruda are similarly presented. Each of the six books is shown page by page from title page and content to the colophon at the end. As an introduction, the six books are placed in the tradition beginning in the late 1900s of the "livres d'artists"; an "art form [which] has shown an unanticipated tenacity by remaining an unobtrusive but persistent genre ever since." In addition to Neri's art work in the books, sculptures and drawings of his relating to this are pictured, many of these in full-page color photos. Introductory essays by Bruce Nixon (editor-in-chief of Artweek) to the three Neri-Klimenko limited edition art books focus on the collaboration between writer and artist which is central to such projects; with more limited commentary as well on the roles of printer, calligrapher, and binder also part of a successful collaboration. The numerous clear color photographs capturing details of the visual elements are the next best thing to seeing the art books themselves. While Nixon's introductions and commentary delve into both aesthetic and technical matters involved in producing such distinctive books.

Metal Forming Practise: Processes - Machines - Tools

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Metal Forming Practise: Processes - Machines - Tools
Heinz Tschaetsch
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3540332162

Book Description

The book presents in a condensed and precise manner the most important forming and shearing processes as well as the required tools and machines.

The definitions for the processes are introduced, typical applications are shown, machines and tools are classified, and operational areas are presented. The description of the specific processes or machines, respectively, ends with exercises. The book is completed by a summary of the applied materials and standards.

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