Book Description

This book presents each of Deming's 14 Points, offering analysis and explanations based on years of study with Dr. Deming.As a former senior executive at Ford, Scherkenbach offers his insight in guiding that company's drive to make the 14 Points part of corporate life. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good Summary
This was a good summary for busy managers. It covers the major ideas in a quick to read format.

Author has a newer book
This book is a very good summary of The Fourteen Points, developed by W. Edwards Deming. However, William W. Scherkenbach has a newer book that actually comments on many portions of Deming's work and gives excellent information on how to implement these ideas in your company. The title of this newer book is "Deming's Road to Continual Improvement," published by SPC Press ... Read more

Book Description

The author's objective is to show managers how to build quality into all aspects of a company's operations thereby lowering costs, increasing sales, and boosting profits and do all this without the typical bureaucratic controls and procedures that merely hassle people without producing the desired results. Real situation and amusing fictional case histories are used to demonstrate that problems of quality and hassle are caused by management action. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Quality Carol
In Quality Without Tears, Crosby adds new layers to his original "zero defects" philosophy. He offers fourteen steps for quality improvement in teams.

Let's look at one of them, Step 6, "corrective action." The common problem with "corrective action," says Crosby, is that people don't understand what the term means.

Suppose, says Crosby, that you suddenly found a grizzly bear in your back yard: "The answer would not be to set up an armed camp to protect yourself from the bear. This is the sort of action that takes place when parts of an organization are given a shoot-to-kill license. All that results is a lot of yard that can't be used and several dead bears."

Corrective actions have to begin by identifying the source of the bears.

Another step is Zero Defects Day: "Many people rarely have exciting days at work . . . A well-planned, dignified, Zero Defects Day on which management understands what it is talking about is a delight that will be remembered forever."

Recognition also plays a role. An organization recognizes people who can serve as "beacons." These are the people who shine so brightly that they help keep everyone heading in the right direction:

"Many managers feel, somewhat cynically, that people are being paid to do their jobs and that's that. This attitude reflects an insensitivity to people that is a trademark of many hockey-style managers."

To drive his philosophy home, Crosby cites an unusual case study:

In "A Quality Carol," Emory Spellman falls asleep on a bus. A spirit appears and takes him to see his deceased partner. The partner is repairing thousands of defective items that their company has made.

This is punishment ...

"... For being the cause of the hassle other people had to live with. For not preventing these things by being interested in quality."

The apparition warns:

"All these years, you have treated quality like something you could take in or take out. Well, unless you change your ways, you are going to wind up right next to me, forever and ever, twenty-four hours a day. No time off, no visitors, no meetings ---- just all the problems you ever caused."

Predictably, three more visitors appear.

Quality Past is a former college professor who wants to retract something he had taught Emory. The misinformed lesson was to cut corners on quality.

Quality Present appears as a woman who tries to sell him on the quality vaccine. Failing in that, she brings Emory's customers to him through a television screen. One after another comes into view with a litany of complaints about the company's products and services.

When Quality Future enters, Emory finally sees the light. The final and most portentous visitor is a "severe looking person carrying a briefcase and dressed in a black three-piece suit." He has just bought the company from a bankruptcy court.

Emory returns later in the book and applies Crosby's methods to avert that fate.

A man with conviction
Philip Crosby is widely recognized as a quality pioneer for the concepts he drove homw with Quality is Free and Quality Without Tears. After reading, Quality Without Tears, I was struck by how deep a conviction he held that his concepts were valid. It's easy to say that now that they have become widely accepted, but it takes a visionary to act that way when they're a somewehat new approach.

The concepts which Crosby developed were a extension of the work of Dr. Edwards Deming (who also has published a bunch of books) and Crosby's work seems to be the basis of the later Six Sigma approach that proved to work so well.

The best summary of achieving manufacturing quality.
Phil Crosby has the most coherent view of achieving quality of anyone I've read in 25 years of management. I continue to come back to him when I hit a quality problem in our company or those from whom we buy. This book is the best summary of his philosophy, in my opinion. ... Read more

Book Description

To understand and profit from Total Quality Management, companies must pay particular attention to the first word in the phrase—total. The spectacular rewards enjoyed by top companies like 3M, FedEx, and Ben & Jerry's were earned through a total commitment to achieving superior quality and customer satisfaction across all company functions and processes.

Total Quality Management, Second Edition gives you a completely up-to-date look at how 51 of the world's most successful companies put the total into TQM. Each of these companies, including 13 new additions and 23 Baldrige Award winners, is cited as a benchmark performer in a particular business function. Their examples help you set your sights on specific goals and learn a variety of ways to go about achieving each goal. Each chapter features the best practices of one manufacturing company, one service company, and one small business. Following the examples set by these overachievers, you'll discover how to:

• Lead the transition from traditional management to management by quality
• Identify customer needs and use that knowledge to drive the organization
• Integrate strategic quality and business planning into a single strategic process
• Communicate customer and company requirements throughout your organization
• Recognize and reward employee efforts and promote improved quality
• Establish uniform measurement systems and manage by fact, not fiction
• Borrow shamelessly from industry leaders to encourage breakthrough thinking
• Build strengths and eliminate weaknesses through an annual assessment process.

Fully updated—the book that puts the total into.

Total Quality Management.

In this book, the former chairman of the Baldrige Award panel of judges teams up once again with a leading quality consultant to bring you a Baldrige-based TQM model that covers every aspect of your business. Built from the best practices of 51 companies (including 23 Baldrige Award winners) whose star performances have made them benchmark corporations, this book brings you:

• Best practices and TQM applications from small businesses, huge corporations, and everything in between
• TQM practices from retail stores, service companies, manufacturers, and more
• Hundreds of real-world examples, tested processes, and innovative techniques
• Proven ways to boost profits, inspire workers, and delight customers.

Praise for the First Edition

"Alive . . . vivid, entertaining, successful. . . . Even the most inexperienced can understand and implement TQM using this book."—Charles A. Aubrey Vice President, Juran Institute.

"If you read only one book about quality management, read this one . . . the definitive management handbook of the decade."—Lynn A. Moline Former Executive Director, Minnesota Council for Quality.

"A great book about a better way to run a company."—Bob G. Gower President and CEO, Lyondell Petrochemical Co.

"Packed with strategies that can be implemented in any organization . . . must reading for those interested in proven quality strategies."—Ellen Gaucher Senior Associate Director, University of Michigan Medical Center

"Get it. This book is jammed full of practical case studies from a management and profitability perspective."—C. Jackson Grayson Jr. Chairman, American Productivity and Quality Center.

Supplemented with an updated list of resources and a contact list for all profiled companies, Total Quality Management, Second Edition shows you how to lead your organization straight to the cutting edge of quality and keep it there. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

How should TQM be implemented, read the examples!
he Baldrigde Quality System quantifies the quality of a company with a score from zero to a thousand points. Even the best companies are far behind the thousand point limit, but the writers found 53 examples that, at least for one aspect, owe almost the maximum of the available points. Ben&Jerry's, Ford, 3M and AT&T are just a few of the companies that have provided information for the book. Still the book is not a list of 'perfect case examples' but the writers managed to let the theory and practice explain solutions to daily problems and improved management techniques. Although none of the issues dealt with is explained in the smallest detail or with an extensive number of examples, but this books provides a broad view for new managers or managers new to TQM. ... Read more

Book Description

A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)– 2000 Edition is your basic reference and the world’s de facto standard for the project management profession. It was designated an American National Standard (ANSI/PMI 99-001-2000) by the American National Standards Institute in March 2001.

The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) is an inclusive term that describes the sum of knowledge within the profession of project management. The PMBOK® Guide identifies and describes the subset of principles and practices within the PMBOK® that are generally accepted and applicable to most projects most of the time. The guide also provides a common lexicon for talking about project management. Project management is a relatively young profession, and while there is substantial commonality around what is done, there is relatively little commonality in the terms used. An extensive glossary further aids in standardizing definitions of the most important concepts, terms, and phrases.

The Project Management Institute (PMI®) uses the PMBOK® Guide as one of the references for the Project Management Professional (PMP®) Certification Examination. Major revisions and expansions of this edition include:

• Aligned newly added processes, tools, and techniques with the five project processes and nine knowledge areas. For example, reserve time, variance analysis, and activity attributes were added to Chapter 6 (Project Time Management); estimating publications and earned value were added to Chapter 7 (Project Cost Management); and project reports, project presentations, and project closure were added to Chapter 10 (Project Communications Management).

• Added a section in Chapter 2 to acknowledge the role of the Project Office; expanded the treatment of earned value management in Chapter 4 and Chapter 10; and added a brief discussion of the Theory of Constraints in Chapter 6.

• Expanded Chapter 11 (Project Risk Management) to include six processes instead of the previous four: Risk Management Planning, Risk Identification, Risk Assessment, RiskQuantification, Risk Response Planning, and Risk Monitoring and Control.

• Strengthened the linkage between organizational strategy and project management throughout.

The PMBOK® Guide is one of those indispensable tools that you will want at your fingertips, both at work and in your home office. Selected as a suggested resource for CAPM®, CAQ® Automotive Product Development, CAQ Capital Projects, CAQ Information Technology Systems, CAQ Information Technology Networking, and CAQ Project Management Office exam preparation.

Look for official translations in 8 languages:
• Chinese
• Spanish
• Portuguese
• French
• German
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean ... Read more

Reviews (22)

A Requirement for PMP exam, but not everything.
I'm a a certified PMP and purchased this book because PMI says it is the basis for the exam. The problem is that it's incredibly boring and does not include all the information on the test! Although all the project management processes are detailed and the terms are defined, it does not really teach you on how to apply and understand project management. There are also no practice questions included in the PMBOK and this is an absolute requirement before you sit for the test. You must also purchase an independant study guide book. I recommend PMP Exam Prep by Rita Mulcahy. It is well written, an enjoyable read, and includes many topics that appear on the exam that are not included in the PMBOK (i.e. Professional Responsibility etc.).

_The_ Project Management Standard
The PMI has put together a book that is the definitive project management standard. Within the concise 200 or so pages, expect to get an overview of all the general areas of project management.

This book describes a generic project management model, suitable across many disciplines. It is written to be a standard. While it is authoritative and something you should definitely read, it is tough reading for beginners. The book does not proceed in the same sequence as project phases. It makes the book difficult to read as a textbook.

If you are a beginner I suggest that you purchase a copy of this book immediately but do not attempt to read it yet. Buy yourself a basic book on project management. Participate and lead projects. As you face issues within your project, refer to this book. You will find your study will be richly rewarded.

Anyone appearing for the PMP exam must know this material like the back of their hands. Spend a lot of time here. Keep in mind however that this book is not a repository of knowledge, it is a roadmap.

In summary, not a trivial read, but a rewarding one.

Essential reference fo PMP
This book is a good reference and should be used as a reference book. You need to know the content of this book to pass the PMP. However, don't use thie book at the only source of study. Get a copy of Andy Crowe's "The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try" and "The Ultimate PMP Study Aid" (from ebay).

By the way, when your join the PMI memnbership, they will send a CDROM verson of the book free.

Good reference, but you will fail PMP if you rely only on it
This reference is good for a base of terminology for Project Management. Unfortunately, because the difference between an IT project and a Construction project is so great, the BOK can only address high-level concepts. The golden nugget is that what the BOK does address are time-tested standards that help all project managers.

Why do you make a Charter? What goes in it? What do you get out of it? The BOK answers all these questions. By following the framework, your projects will have a fighting chance and not get caught up in a tangle of disorganization.

As for the PMP-applicability of this reference, it does not address contracts, team-building, or ethics, which are all required for passing the test. When I studied for the test, I spent about 5% of my time studying the PMBOK and 95% on other reference materials. I earned my PMP after 5 weeks of studying, without memorizing anything from the BOK.

Essential Classic
This book is certainly a must have for the management of BIG projects. It is extremely rich in a wide area of relevant details. It is extremely good as a reference. It is good, if your specific area has not an established project methodology.

On the other hand I do not like the book for reading and learning. It feels like reading a book on income taxes regulations, though a good one. ... Read more

Book Description

A simple, take-along guide to achieving lasting business results

A companion to the bestselling Rath & Strong Pocket Guide to Six Sigma, Rath & Strong's Pocket Guide to Advanced Six Sigma Tools is designed to help Six Sigma black belts, green belts, and team leaders from every field to implement the most powerful tools in Six Sigma without getting bogged down in statistical theory.

This pocket-sized field guide provides practical advice on the use of advanced tools, such as: sampling, analysis of variance, multiple regression, and design of experiments.  Each tool is explained in easy-to-understand language, permitting the reader to solve real-world problems in any area of business.

• Covers step-by-step implementation of the most important Six Sigma tools.
• Features a heavy emphasis on applying the best tools to solve practical business problems.

Explains how to use Microsoft Excel and Minitab statistical software to simplify the process.

Reviews (1)

Pocket Guide / Advanced Tools?
While the terms "advanced tools" and "pocket guide" may seem incongruous in the same sentence, Rath & Strong has managed to package the essence of higher statistical tool use in a concise and accurate guide which does - as advertised - fit into a shirt pocket.

We have found a use for this book as well as the "Six Sigma Pocket Guide" amongst our Black Belts. Many times, it is reached for over the more thorough (and not so small) "Implementing Six Sigma" by Forrest W. Breyfogle.

Anyone who did not really cement the higher statistical concepts in the 2 - 4 weeks that most Six Sigma training allows should benefit from this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The increased focus on customers' needs has allowed organizations employing quality function deployment (QFD) to develop a competitive advantage in quality, cost, development cycle time, and delivery. This will be one of the first books to bring together the top individuals in QFD to discuss its applications in all areas of business. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Doing QFD Right
The QFD Handbook is a great surprise. A surprise for what it actually delivers compared to similar books. This book is not another mechanics "how to" book. Rather, it is an applications "how to" book. It does not tell you how to form and quantify QFD matrices. It tells you how and where to apply QFD and how to integrate it with other valuable tools of advanced quality. That approach creates enormous added value.

The QFD Handbook is also a surprise because its contributors are among some of the most respected practitioners in the world. These experts provide insight into the integration of many Quality Improvement tools into QFD. The result is an approach that provides guidance to the concurrent use of these tools which, when used in the proper context, produce an output far greater than QFD alone.

In addition to the text, facilitating software is included. QFD/Pathway provides exactly what it says, a pathway through the planning and performance of the QFD process. If one considers the knowledge base provided by the book's contributors alone, it is an excellent buy. When one adds in the software, it is invaluable.

A good topics handbook assuming you know the basics
This book serves as a good starting point for QFD topics. "How many areas can you apply QFD to deploying customer needs?" is the theme of this text. Applications to software, Lean/Six Sigma, obtaining management support, and TRIZ are found here. And, most importantly, this book serves as a resource for generating ideas on how to apply QFD to strategic and daily tasks. As with all QFD books that I have seen, there are no real-life examples - you will find but one example that an author (Mazur) applied to a Japanese translating business.

The chapters on management support of QFD are good. I disagree with some advice found here on getting top-management support before you start a QFD exercise, especially if applied to a large organization. To have initial top management support for any new process or technique, then have the initiative actually live up to original expectations without some retrenching is not very realistic, especially in most larger organizations. A more realistic approach would be to pilot QFD on a succession of smaller applications, then gain wider support from upper management as success is achieved over time.

It would be very helpful to have a resource on actual QFD case studies, even if the results were changed in order to protect organizational secrets. In particular, I would like to see case studies as applied to common applications such as public education or city services. I also would have liked to see more "how to" on TRIZ and design for six sigma. These subjects are widely reuseable and very intuitive for readers to absorb. I would also like more discussion on cultural issues and its effect on using QFD. For instance, a common American cultural bias toward quick results and inserting individual opinion into the process. Contrast this with perhaps an foreign (say, for instance, Japanese, where the technique originated) cultural bias toward group harmony, then you might find a big difference in the way that QFD is effectively employed.

Overall, I recommend this as a resource text, but I recommend that you first learn the mechanics of collecting the customer's voice and the building house of quality. Cohen's book is a good starting place for this, among others.

A Complete Treatise on QFD!
This book is not for the faint of heart. But if you really want to understand the concept and benefits of Quality Function Deployment and learn how to effectively implement it in your business, this book will cover everything you will need to know. Your time and money investment will be returned to you tenfold when you discover what your customers are truly looking for from your company after following the guidelines outlined in this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for Rath & Strong's Six Sigma Leadership Handbook

"Six Sigma tools, particularly DFSS, are critical drivers of organic growth. DFSS can be used to significantly improve a new product, service, or process anywhere. Rath & Strong’s detailed approach to how your company can use these tools is terrific."
–Dave Cote, Chairman and CEO, Honeywell

"This handbook is a valuable resource for leaders considering implementing a Six Sigma program. I wish I had something like it when Quest Diagnostics first embarked on our commitment to Six Sigma quality a few years ago."
–Kenneth W. Freeman, Chairman and CEO
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

"Rath & Strong’s new handbook focuses on the critical factors that can make or break the implementation of Six Sigma in an organization."
–John C. Plant, President and CEO, TRW Automotive

"This handbook is an essential tool for any organization that is considering implementing a quality or process improvement program utilizing the Six Sigma methodology. Understanding the philosophy behind this proven management framework before putting it into practice gives companies looking to use it an even greater edge. The handbook provides an easy-to-follow footprint for the successful deployment of Six Sigma."
–Randy H. Zwirn, President and CEO
Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A must for Six Sigma starter, and leader
The name says it well - this is a book for leader who want to know what Six Sigma is, and in particular, all (and I mean ALL) the other management issues for starting Six Sigma.

Obviously this book will not cover the detail technical aspect of Six Sigma (like the statistics knowledge,etc), but this book cover all the useful information for Six Sigma - its history, what is Black/Green/Yellow Belts, what is DFSS,DMAIC,etc.. It also covers information not available in other Six Sigma books - change management, Belts selection, communication to the organization, etc... I will say this single book must be the very first book for all people who wants to know this popular management topics, before going into other academic or technical details.

No other single source offers more or better information
Twenty-eight people contributed material to this book, including Thomas Bertels who also served as editor. What we have here in a single volume is a focus on "the critical factors that can make or break the implementation of Six Sigma in an organization." The contributors identify, explain, and then support these principles with real-world experiences and examples. "By placing Six Sigma in this context, this book will, in fact, be useful for any executive, manager, or employee who wants to understand how Six Sigma can help address the particular challenges of their organization." This book was written with empathy for non-technicians (such as I) as it responds to questions such as these:

• What is Six Sigma?
• Why Six Sigma?
• Why NOT Six Sigma?
• Where and how to begin?
• Whom to involve in Six Sigma initiatives?
• What is senior management's role?
• Major cultural barriers and how to overcome them?
• How and when to implement Six Sigma program?
• How to measure progress?
• How to sustain process improvement?

My own rather extensive experience suggests that all organizations can improve HOW they conduct business. Some processes may involve development of new products or services, others production and/or distribution, and still others order processing. Whatever. Not all organizations, however, need a full-blown Six Sigma program. In fact, a majority of such programs either fail or fall far short of expectations.

Among the many substantial benefits of this book is the guidance it provides to decision-makers when they struggle to determine the nature and extent of process improvement initiatives needed. You don't need a full-blown Six Sigma program inorder to, for example, reduce cycle time while improving first-pass yield. Among the most valuable chapters in this book are the last two. With appropriate modification, the principles, strategies, and tactics in both Chapter 24 ("Measuring and Auditing Results") and in Chapter 25 ("Developing Change Leadership Capacity") are relevant to any organization, regardless of size of nature. In my opinion, each of these two chapters (all by itself) is worth far more than the cost of the book but the value of both is even greater, of course, when their material is absorbed and digested at the conclusion of the sequence of chapters. I also want to commend the remarkably informative Foreword, Preface, and Introductions well as are three appendices: "Basic Six Sigma Concepts," "Case Study: Six Sigma in Small and Medium Enterprises," and "DFSS Case Study."

Previously, I have reviewed and praised the works of Forrest Breyfogle, Subir Chowdhury, George Eckes, and Peter Pande, each of whom has written brilliantly and eloquently on the subject of Six Sigma. I continue to recommend their works without hesitation or qualification, as I shall now do also with Rath & Strong's Six Sigma Leadership Handbook as well as the three Rath & Strong Pocket Guides and the Six Sigma Road Map. Given the importance of process improvement, and given how many hours and dollars can be saved by even one improvement, it makes sense to obtain resources such as these and then derive maximum ROI from each.

Practical Guidance for Leaders
This is the best practical guide out there. It is not a pocket guide like most of Rath & Strong's publications but it is no less practical. The book is written by a group of authors who work day-to-day actually implementing Six Sigma in a variety of organizations and clearly reflects their practical orientation. In addition, there are a number of indepth interviews with corporate CEOs and other senior leaders who have successfully used Six Sigma. One of the strengths of this book is that it not only covers the technical issues associated with Six Sigma implementation but also offers practical guidance in areas like change management and cultural impact. This handbook is a must read both for anyone thinking about implementing Six Sigam and for those already deeply involved.

Perfect Overview
This is the most complete Six Sigma overview I have ever read. Not only does Rath & Strong write from a team of everyday Six Sigma trainers and consultants, but this book also includes high profile interviews by industry leaders such as Dr. Juran (Juran Institute), Dr. Mikel Harry (Six Sigma Academy) and Robert Galvin (Motorola). If you do not have this book, you are not serious about Six Sigma. ... Read more

Book Description

Hailed by Time magazine as the "leading evangelist of quality," Philip Crosby has emerged as one of the century's greatest management thinkers. Now, in this autobiography, the person most responsible for the quality revolution in American business shares the ideas and insights he's gathered over the course of an eventful, forty-year career. A talented storyteller, Crosby recounts his years as vice president of ITT, his working relationship with the legAndary Harold Geneen, and the launch--and re-launch--of his own consulting practice. Quality and Me is an intimate, informative portrait of the man who changed the way quality management is practiced today. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Another entertaining and educational book from Phil Crosby
Philip Crosby uses his life story to entertain and educate the reader.His "lessons learned" throughout the book are simple, practical and should be paid attention to.I enjoyed 'Quality & Me'very muchas well as learning valuable lessons to assist my own evolving life. ... Read more

Book Description

Practical, up-to-date coverage for a new generation of engineering and management professionals.

Lawrence S. Afts Productivity, Measurement, and Improvement has long served as a seminal reference for students and professionals in industrial engineering, quality management, and other related fields. Now Work Measurement and Methods Improvement brings his work right up to date with the demands of todays rapidly changing marketplace, where work measurement and methods improvement have a vital role to play in improving quality and enhancing productivity in a wide range of industries.

Accessible and easy to follow, this book presents solid, practical coverage of the key principles and practices of work measurement. It explains the purpose, use, advantages, and limitations of tools and methods for:

• Work analysis–including graphical productivity analysis and work methods improvement
• Product measurement–from time study and standard data systems to work sampling and labor reporting issues
• Product improvement–ergonomics, incentive systems, continuous improvement, process improvement, and more

With straightforward examples, chapter-end summaries, review questions, and practice exercises that emphasize the application of fundamental concepts, Work Measurement and Methods Improvement is an essential reference for current and future professionals who must do the work and manage the process to achieve better quality, higher productivity, and powerhouse performance for their organization. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must buy if you are in the Textile Industry
Author Sara J. Kadolph, deserves a pat on her back, for Authoring this book.

I like the way she has prsented the whole subject.
The Logical sequence she has followed in appointing the various topics.
The coverage of various topics is excellent.

Being a Teacher of Textile Quality Assurance in India, I am definitely finding the book extremely useful is preparing my Lectures.

I would say its a must buy for any one involved in Textile Quality Assurance. ... Read more

Book Description

Review of previous edition:

"This will be of particular importance to companies that act as suppliers to larger multinational organisations, whose original specifications may not translate readily into local practice".

Quality Today




Small and medium-sized companies face many challenges today; not least that their larger institutional and multinational customers make demands that are difficult to meet for an organisation with limited resources.One such demand is ISO 9000 compliance.

Fully revised and updated, ISO 9001: 2000 for Small Businesses explains the new requirements of ISO 9001: 2000 and helps businesses draw up a quality plan that will allow them to meet the challenges of the market place.

For engineers and managers in small and medium sized companies, and also in service industries and user groups, the text will serve as a essential guide to the most important new developments in quality assurance.

Includes a full description of ISO 9001: 2000.More information on quality control and quality assurance.Includes a sample quality manual and guidance on self-certification, including ISO 9001: 2000 Audit Checklists. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Thank you!
We decided to purchase a copy of this book (as opposed to the many others that are available on this topic) as a direct result of having read the Amazon.com reviews. Not only does 'ISO 9001:2000 for Small Businesses' provide an exceeding informative, very clear and easy to read explanation of the aims of the new standard, it also gives purchasers the added bonus of being able to download an example of a generic QMS that they can quickly customise for their own use. We certainly have not regretted this decision to buy the book as it has saved us literally hundreds of hours of work and enabled us to quickly upgrade our previous procedural ISO 9002 system to the ISO 9001:2000 process format. With the aid of this book we successfully achieved this conversion with minimum cost and were successful in becoming Registered to ISO 9001:2000 at our first attempt! The author also provided us with an e-consultancy service on the lines of a HELP Desk, which must have saved us thousands in consultancy charges. All in all, 'ISO 9001:2000 for Small Businesses' has been far and away the best book we have every purchased. Thank you Amazon.com and thank you Ray Tricker!

Availability of example QMS
I have just completed the reading of Mr Tricker's excellent book "ISO 9001:2000 for small businesses" This book clearly explains the requirements of ISO 9000. Other publications and even courses I have been on have failed to do this as far as I was concerned. I like the practical approach and in particular the example documents that can be customised and used for installing and/or updating a Quality Management System. I have a small consultancy and the system will enable me to move forward with confidence.

Not all that it says it is
Much of the book's explanation of the standard is pretty much a repetition of the words stated in the standard itself so it doesn't add much value and can be quite confusing at times.

The author also fails to explain some very important points of the standard. One example are the clauses on product "verification" and product "validation". These two terms have very different meanings in the standard. The book fails to explain their differences as well as their exact purpose.

I also noticed a number of typos in the text. There is a section in one of the later chapters of the book that, I believe, was not updated because it still used the word "Supplier" when it meant "Organization".

As for the free quality manual, I would not recommend using it. It does not apply for small businesses and the structure is not that comprehendible. The scary part about this is that the author went as far as saying the reader can immediately use the free quality manual by just replacing the sample company name with the reader's own! That sounds a lot like a get-rich-overnight scheme. It never works. You'll have satisfied ISO 9001:2000's requirement to document your procedures, but as for its requirement to implement and maintain it...I highly doubt that's going to happen if you use the sample manual as is.

I'd go for ISO 9001:2000 explained (second edition). Apart from the fact that the authors were members of the group who actually made the standard, the text is very clear and easily understood.

User-friendly intro to ISO
After the canonical brief history of ISO and where ISO 9000 came from, Mr. Tricker walks the reader through the standard. He gives a friendly treatment to material that is often presented, at least in other books I've read, in a pedantic way. The book introduces the clauses in the standard's order, then explains them, in a conversational, accessible tone.
The book also includes a quality manual, sample procedures and work instructions. I can only speak for myself, but this is what got the standard to "click" for me. Reading the ISO clauses and interpretations was fine, but when it came time to write my own manual, I found myself floundering. Seeing how Mr. Tricker applied the standard for his own consultancy was invaluable. The manual, procedures and work instructions were all in one section, and not dispersed throughout the book as examples, which added to the book's utility. A great reference book

ISO 9001:2000: For small businesses
An excellent book if you have no experience implementing ISO 9000 in your company. Mr Tricker does a good job in leading you right from the initial question: what is quality management? to producing your own quality management system. As a small engineering business we couldn't afford external consultants so ISO 9001:2000 FSB was exactly what we needed ... Read more

Book Description

Food companies, regardless of their size and scope, understand that it is impossible to establish a single division devoted to "quality", as quality is the responsibility and purpose of every company employee. Applying this theory demands the cooperation of each employee and an understanding of the methodology necessary to establish, implement, and evaluate a Quality Assurance program.Quality Assurance for the Food Industry: A Practical Approach provides in-depth coverage of all aspects of quality assurance. It identifies the basic concepts and principles behind Total Quality Management and presents examples of Quality Assurance programs that can be applied to the food industry using simple, proven formats. The author discusses the role of Quality Assurance in product manufacturing, emphasizing the need for interactions among an organization's Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Product Development, Marketing, Sales, and Consumer Affairs departments. He analyzes the characteristics of a quality audit and the purpose of a proper audit, then focuses on specific examples including product manufacturing audits, food plant sanitation audits, and product quality audits. A comprehensive examination of HAACP and its applications concludes the coverage.This practical, industry-oriented reference explains the fundamental role of Quality Assurance and provides the knowledge required for establishing a Total Quality Management system in your own company. The concepts and procedures discussed are the key components for attaining and maintaining the highest standards of quality in the food industry. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Best
This is the best book on quality for the food industry I have come across. The writing is beautifully clear and easy to understand - so many of these books are mind-numbingly pedantic. As the title suggests, the author gives a "practical approach" to the issue of quality. Not only does he explain the concept of quality, he gives practical examples of how to achieve the best possible product. He emphasises training: from the line worker to upper management. He reminds us that quality requires a short-term economic investment, but in the long-term companies can avoid all-too-costly mistakes. Like all businesses, we have our share of management personnel who think they know everything - this book is a reminder to reconsider that premise. The willingness of upper management to establish basic quality guidelines and training is the most important factor in a company's success: it can engage every employee, promote a more dynamic and rewarding work environment and is simply cost-effective because it helps to avoid errors and costly re-calls.
The author covers all the tools of quality management and their practical applications. He thoroughly covers HACCP - why it is important, how to establish a HACCP program and when to call in a consultant. The section regarding audits is outstanding - the author explains the different types of audits, including the need for outside audits and gives practical examples of different product audits. Now, when it is time for an outside audit of our products, I can judge if the consultant is giving me all the information I need to know, is listing and rating any deviations and is recommending practical solutions. I have also initiated plans for increased training of our plant workers (short on-site HACCP and GMP courses, Better Process Control School, etc.) and am encouraging increased dialogue and training within management. Because my company is smaller, we cannot afford to hire the numbers of highly-trained professionals we really need, but I now know when to look for an expert consultant and how to apply their recommendations. I am already seeing striking improvements in the quality of our products and in the attitudes of our employees.
I recommend this book for all food professionals but especially for those directly involved with any type of processing. ... Read more

Book Description

Over 50 core quality tools and techniques-de-mystified! Now you can master all the core quality methods and statistical procedures-even if you only know high-school math! From poke-yoke to force field analysis, Quality Improvement Tools and Techniques by Peter Mears, lets you exploit the same quality processes the industrial giants do-and achieve the same quality profits. Packed with the seminal thinking of Deming, Crosby, and Juran, it delivers page after page of easy-to-understand: quality tools: pareto, fishbone, scatter and histogram diagrams; pie, control, bar, frequency and radar chars; and the likert scale; quality techniques: plan-do-check-act, kaizen, kanban, SMED, nominal grouping, brainstorming, multi-voting; advanced methods: benchmarking, process ownership, hoshing planning, gap analysis taguchi techniques, customer needs mapping; improvement systems: just-in-time, quality teams, quality councils, Baldrige criteria, learning organization methods, shojinka; plus much more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Encyclopedia + cookbook
I keep this book nearby because it serves as an encyclopedia of quality techniques that span the full spectrum, as well as a step-by-step guide to using each of the tools listed.

The entire collection of tools contained and described within are put into context in the first chapter that covers the continuous quality improvement story and its five steps - reason, current situation, analysis, action plan and results. Subsequent chapters are devoted to classes of tools: the basics (flow charts, check sheets, facts vs. inference, and how to construct tools such as Pareto diagrams, histograms, and control charts). Supporting tools, covered in the next chapter, include pie and bar charts, frequency charts, Likert scales and related diagrams.

Basic quality improvement techniques given in the next section go beyond just tools, and include vision and mission statements, group interaction techniques, problem classification and concepts. Among the tools are development charts, force-field analysis, checklists.

Advanced techniques, covered in the next chapter address process ownership, and some fairly substantial tools such as quality function deployment and Taguchi techniques, both of which are explained well in a surprising few pages.

The remainder of the book discusses quality improvement systems, such as JIT, ISO standards; and brief bios of Deming, Crosby and Juran and their approaches. Selected readings on various quality standards round out this book's treatment of the subject.

What I like about this book is the way a large number of topics and associated tools are thoroughly covered in a relatively short book. I also like the way you are clearly led through the construction and use of various charts, and how to effectively use tools in a step-by-step manner. This is clearly a useful introduction to quality tools and techniques, as well as a desk reference.

Easy to use...full of good tools
I am just learning about Continuous Improvement and the tools that are available to make that happen in the workplace. Our company is considering implementing a Six Sigma program and this book provides me with a related and large tool set to add to my tool belt. ... Read more

Book Description

Author Herbert C. Monnich, Jr. has taken readers into a seldom discussed but needed area of the ISO 9000 Standards - applying them to small and medium sized businesses. Monnich gears his book toward those with little or no ISO 9000 experience. Learn how the newly revised standards can be effectively implemented and maintained without spending large sums of money or increasing staff.This book gives the reader a review and explanation of the ISO 9000 series and explains how the quality tools and techniques can be used to implement the requirements of the standards. As Monnich guides readers through each clause, he includes techniques for small businesses to simplify compliance for small and medium sized organizations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Easy to read and gives you a head start
"Herb Monnich has given the small to medium business manager a one-stop shop for implementing ISO 9001-2000, whether they are just beginning the ISO certification process or evolving to the new standard. This book will help business owners/managers save thousands of dollars in unnecessary time-consuming analysis and procedures."
Susan Kohrman
ASQ CQM, Manager of Quality and Safety
Precision Flamecutting and Steel, L.P.

I am Homayon
I am Homayon from Iran , and I have Ms in industrial engineering from Middel east Technical university of Turkey-Ankara, I'm working in a forging company as a system analizer , and I extermly dealed with the Quality Management systems in my company ... Read more

Book Description

Manufacturing systems don't exist in a vacuum, isolated from the rest of the company, but they are often managed that way. A truly effective, highly competitive manufacturing company integrates its manufacturing, marketing, sales, purchasing, and financial functions into a well-coordinated whole. Manufacturing at Warp Speed: Optimizing Supply Chain Financial Performance explains in detail how to coordinate all these functions to maximize sales revenue while controlling inventory and overhead costs. Ultimately, the effects of applying the new Simplified-Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR II) introduced by the authors include dramatically faster manufacturing cycle times, shorter order-to-delivery lead times, higher on-time delivery reliability, and better customer satisfaction.The book gives you everything a typical production professional needs to implement this new DBR approach. A supplemental feature - the Management Interactive Case Study Simulator (MICSS) - is included with the book. This CD-ROM sets up a virtual company where you can test and practice the processes you learn in the book before implementing them in your organization. The book and software together constitute the complete package for learning how to streamline manufacturing operations. The first book available on second generation Drum-Buffer-Rope, Manufacturing at Warp Speed: Optimizing Supply Chain Financial Performance describes the simplest, most efficient methods for reducing manufacturing cycle time and increasing the speed of manufacturing yet devised. Fully illustrated, with numerous examples, case studies, and manufacturing scenarios, the book is so easy to read that even the novice can understand it. Correct use of this new method practically assures your company has the competitive advantage. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent
A terrific for book for those wanting to bridge the gap between reading "The Goal" and putting it into everyday practice. The authors explain the fundamentals of Theory of Constraints and drum-buffer-rope scheduling, and present seductive logic for a new simplified drum-buffer-rope called S-DBR.

Through the use of diagrams called clouds, most people will immediately recognise a host of the day-to-day production problems that they face and the solutions for their removal. There is an important discussion of V, A, and T plant configurations that will help managers to better understand their own plants. The financial, tactical, and strategic implications of TOC are also investigated. Integral to the text is CD-ROM simulation that allows you to run various plants for a significant period of time in order to experience the undesirable effects and their solutions first-hand.

People who are serious about rapidly improving the bottom line performance of their organisations should read this book.

Must Read
The authors have shown us how the the Theory of Constraints can improve your business quickly and effectively. They clearly explain how it operates within existing legacy systems or can be used as the basis for a much improved brand new solution. If you are looking for the definitive reference source that answers those questions you have about TOC in a supply chain solution, then look no longer. "Manufacturing at Warp Speed" is a must read for those investigating leading edge solutions and for the seasoned TOC experts.

Missed the point
Sorry guys.....but this is a very POORLY written book. It has a tendency to bounce all over the place and leaves the reader wondering what point are they trying to make? It also discusses neanderthal technology. Haven't these guys heard of the "Three Step Method", or "Control Point Theory". I think if I were wanting information about how to "Manufacture at Warp Speed" I would think they should at least know how to get to warp speed. This books doesn't have the answers.......it missed the point. ... Read more

Book Description

Includes everything a Six Sigma facilitator needs to lead Six Sigma training

The Six Sigma Basic Training Kit, complete with facilitator notes, learning exercises, case studies, and more, is a series of training modules for any company that is implementing Six Sigma. It provides everything a trainer needs to take a quality improvement team through the Six Sigma process step by step, from appreciating quality to creating and executing a quality-improvement plan.

Classic, simple processes developed by the world-famous Juran Institute have been turned into easy training modules on how to:

• Identify business processes needing improvement
• Work as a team on the solution
• Track time and cost savings that result from the new process, and more

Reviews (4)

expensive & dissapointing
I am an ASQ certified Black Belt and a Six Sigma Trainer in Germany. I expected a good help for instruction but I was extremely dissapointed. This Kit contains no cd or disc with powerpoint slides. The contents are very primitive and not very helpful in training any students with a little experience in quality management. The name Six Sigma Training Kit is in my eyes wrong because it contains nearly only basic quality tools found in better publications. This time the name "Juran" doesn't guarantee quality. For 10% of the price buy better Rath&Strong's Pocket Guide!

Perfect for training non-technical students
Although the tools are not what one would consider core 6-Sigma tools (i.e., no control charts), this book is still a worthwhile training kit. Its main value is to provide a firm grounding in the basics for non-technical members of an organization that is implementing 6-Sigma. When used for that purpose the book gives the trainer or facilitator a clearly laid out syllabus for teaching what 6-Sigma means and why it's important to organizations from quality and competitive advantage perspectives.

In addition to providing a roadmap for teaching the what's and why's, the syllabus also covers a number of concepts and tools that will prove useful to anyone from admin assistant to line manager, including a good understanding of quality, cause analysis, powerful, but simple, tools (cause and effect, flow and Pareto diagrams and charts).

For the professional trainer or facilitator the book epitomizes what excellent training documentation should look like. The layout makes good use of white space, the writing is clear, and the use of tables and graphics enhance learning.

If you are a trainer or facilitator this book will dramatically shorten course design and provide you with solid training materials. It is not suited for advanced training in 6-Sigma techniques, however, but for the target audience I cited above it's perfect.

Should be called "Six Sigma for Dummies (sans cartoons)"
Overall, the quality of this book is adequate, provided you aren't expecting a thorough treatment. That, in itself, would've rated it three stars if there wasn't one mitigating factor - in reading this book, one could (easily) assume the Juran Group (or Juran himself) invented Six Sigma, and nothing could be further from the truth. (As best as I know, it was Bob Gavin, in 1988.)

Egoism drops the rating to two stars.

This book is a good basic overview - nothing more. Save yourself the grief (and money!) and buy the Pyzdek book instead.

A positive review with some constructive comments
The book is a very good tool to use to teach the basics of Six Sigma. The training guide is exact, clear, and concise as is the participant guide.
It is a BASIC course and as such, it contains no statistical tools.
Now for the bad.
The paper of the manual is very flimsy and apt to tear.
The participant guide section starts with page number 201. I thought perhaps it should start with page 1.
On some of the Participant pages, at the bottom it gives a web address to go to if you would like to download an electronic (MS Word) customizable document. I went there, and could not figure out how to do so.

I think the book is an excellent basic training kit, as advertised, but handle the manual gingerly, the pages more than likely to tear. ... Read more

Book Description

ZQC is based on the principle that defects are prevented bycontrollingthe performance of a process so that it cannotproducedefects, even when a mistake is made by the machine or a humanoperator.Instead of pointing fingers at people, ZQC finds ways tokeep errors from turning into defects. This book introduces front-lineworkers to the basic methodology of ZQC in a succinct, easy to readformat that covers all aspects of this important manufacturingimprovement strategy. ... Read more