Reviews (15)

THE Book!
I never imagined I could clear the EIT Exam after studying for just 10 days while working full time. Only book I used was FE Review Manual and I did it! I am surprised myself.... On the contrary I wouldn't advice anyone to start so late, give yourself a month to prepare fairly well. The book is excellent and covers everything and in detail. The exercises are harder in the book than in the actual exam which prepares you well for the exam. Personally, A MUST book for anyone planning on the taking the exam.

The only FE Prep book you need...
Having been out of school for over ten years at the time I registered for the FE exam, I knew I needed a Preparation Manual that would help me "re-learn" all of those long forgotten formulas and methods. My current lifestyle also dictated that my study be done quickly and with a minimun investment of my personal time (while still ensuring that I pass). This manual did it! This was all I needed to take the test. It is highly recommended.

If you want to pass the PE - GET THIS BOOK!
This book was extremely helpful in preparing for the FE. It takes some time to go through all the material, but if you do it is well worth it. I passed the FE on the first try because of this book!

a high school graduate could pass with this book
Even though I have an engineering degree. I got my degree back in 1984. So I thought woah this is going to be hard. After studying the book carefully and grasping each theoretical concept and did the examples. Not only did I pass the test. I smoked it. Lets say this book is even made for morons to pass the EIT. I recommend this book to even a high school graduate. This book is worth 5 times its price because it is priceless.

Excellent book to prepare you for EIT/FE Exam
This is the only book I used to study, and I passed the exam the first try.

Pros
- Every topic is clearly outlined - easy to set up your own battle plan
- Diagnostic exam, short references, and practice exams on each topic
- One full-length sample exam

Cons
- This is the 3rd Edition but errors still exist. Go to www.ppi2pass.com to look for the errata list
- The references on this book are more detailed than the actual references provide for the exam. Don't rely on them to do practice problems.

Tips
- Download a copy of FE Supplied-Reference Handbook from ncees.org (This is the only reference that will be given to you during the exam.) So, get familiarized with the content and use it to do all your problems.
- Purchase the FE/EIT Sample Examinations if you feel you need more practice.
- I found the actual test easier than the practice questions in the book. So do not panic if you don't know how to do some of the questions in this book.
- The raw score for passing the exam is about 120/240. In a perfect world, random guessing all questions will give you 60/240 (or 25%). So if you spend a little bit of time going through this book, you should be fine. Good luck! ... Read more

Book Description

Solutions-based approach to quick calculations in structural element design and analysis

Now updated with 30% new material, Roark Formulas for Stress and Strain, Seventh Edition, is the ultimate resource for designers, engineers, and analysts who need to calculate loads and stress. This landmark reference from Warren Young and Richard Budynas provides you with equations and diagrams of structural properties in an easy-to-use, thumb-through format. Updated, with a user-friendly page layout, this new edition includes expanded coverage of joints, bearing and shear stress, experimental stress analysis, and stress concentrations, as well as material behavior coverage and stress and strain measurement. You’ll also find expanded tables and cases; improved notations and figures in the tables; consistent table and equation numbering; and verification of correction factors. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Exelente libro, todo ingeniero Mecanico Debe tener Uno
Excelente para consegir la mayoria de las formulas relacionadas con calculos de esfuerzo y deformacion. Contiene cantidad de referencias para cada caso, de ser necesario rpofundizar mas en el tema. Lo recomiendo ampliamente, lo utilizo en todos mis calculos estructurales.

Roark's has been not been improved
The book is now twice the thickness of the 6th Edition book. This makes opening and keeping open the book much more difficult. Also the paper type chosen makes it difficult to turn the pages.

I highly recommend keeping the sixth edition until they figure what is truly important to Structural/Mechanical Engineer.

Every structural engineer should have a copy.
A very usefull reference book for the practising structural or mechanical engineer. However it could be significantly improved by some modernisation and rationalisation ie: removing references out-dated information and references from the 1920's and 1930's,etc. Also by standardising variables and equations, eg: the variable for the width of a section may be 'b' in one chapter 'd' in another, also 'tw' may represent flange thickness rather than web thickness, etc. The book examples are all in U.S. (lbs, feet) units, annoying the European (N, m) user, and may start on one page, then be interupted by 20 pages of tables before continuing on. So the general layout could do with being significantly improved.

still crazy after all this years.....
R&Y's publication, which I became aware of in 1986 is stillan amazing collection of engineering formulas in statics, stability,dynamics and thermal calculations. The IFE uses ANSYS FEA technologyesp. for complex geometries and nonlinear issues: but once in a whilewe appreciate R&Y's work to retain contact to quantities and forthe insight (wrt dimensioning) which interaction with formulas cangive.

R&Y's text sections give much insight, the section onstrenght of materials terminology can be useful (learn - refresh) aswell as the brief immersion into experimental issues.

Frank ExiusIFE BONN Germany...

the search stops here
this book has all the possible formulae for all the possible loadings on all the possible types of sections an engineer will ever encounter! a must for the practicing engineer. ... Read more

Book Description

Fu-Tung Cheng's surprise bestseller Concrete Countertops paved the way for a fresh look at a familiar surface. His new book moves beyond the kitchen and transforms this commonplace material into an elegant medium that can be used throughout the house. Combining cutting-edge design with helpful how-to information, Concrete at Home offers ingenious ideas for planning and building walls, fireplaces, mantels, hearths, and exterior and interior floors, as well as tips on incorporating architectural elements such as counters, sinks, columns, and water pieces into the project. The construction of forms, footings, and ties is detailed in clear, easy-to-follow instructions, and special attention is given to finishing techniques, including adding color, texture, and inlays. ... Read more

Book Description

A quick introduction on how to use Lean Six Sigma to improve your workplace, meet your goals, and better serve your customers.

Lean Six Sigma combines the two most important improvement trends of our time: making work better (using Six Sigma) and making work faster (using Lean principles).In this plain-English guide, you’ll discover how this remarkable quality improvement method can give you the tools to identify and eliminate waste and quality problems in your own work area.

Packed with diagrams, cartoons, and real-life examples, What is Lean Six Sigma? reveals the “four keys” of Lean Six Sigma and how they apply to your own job:

• Delight your customers with speed and quality
• Improve your processes
• Work together for maximum gain
• Base decisions on data and facts

You’ll see the big picture of what your company hopes to gain with Lean Six Sigma, how it may affect your work area, and what it can mean to you personally.

Reviews (1)

A Must Read!
The authors did a great job on the book. I read it on an airplane earlier this week and really enjoyed it. It is very well written - very understandable at a novice level and insightful at the "supposed expert" level. I think it is
a "must read" for everyone in an organization deploying Lean Six Sigma or anybody interested in improving the economic value of their business. ... Read more

Book Description

Offers a concise and thorough presentation of engineering mechanics theory and application. The material is reinforced with numerous examples to illustrate principles and imaginative, well-illustrated problems of varying degrees of difficulty. The book is committed to developing users' problem-solving skills. Features new "Photorealistc" figures (approximately 400) that have been rendered in often 3D photo quality detail to appeal to visual learners.Presents a thorough combination of both static and dynamic engineering mechanics theory and applications. Features a large variety of problem types from a broad range of engineering disciplines, stressing practical, realistic situations encountered in professional practice, varying levels of difficulty, and problems that involve solution by computer.For professionals in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, aeronautical engineering, and engineering mechanics careers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

great book for those less worried about theory
This book came in very handy as a compliment to Meriam's contribution (5th edition).For those of us less technically-minded, yet required to take courses such as engineering dynamics, this book left the theory and procedural derivations to another day so that at first by practice may understanding come about.When I couldn't quite comprehend what Meriam's book said, I found my answer in this book.There are better (ahem, simpler) explanations of not only the ideas but the math as well, a major help to someone increasingly out of practice, however the appendices are weak so don't look to them for much review.Answers to odd-numbered problems are provided.Note: This book doesn't make the learning easy, it just softens the blow sufficiently.

the instructionally most modern text on statics and dynamics
Lets begin with the Pro's:
+ it *really* tells you *how* to tackle (and solve) a problem incl *all* details (appropriate coordinate system, sign conventions with choice of vector calculus or scalar vector components, magic with all different kind of unit vectors, free-body-diagrams) in the fantastic 'Procedures for Analysis'. it tells you why which choice is favourable in a straight-forward direct manner, didactically perfect.
+ only one to deserve the title 'Eng Mech for Dummies', best intro book among all competitors. It *is* a book for dummies! :-)
+ 10/E no more errors in problem solutions/answers: "two other professionals have checked all the problems for clarity and accuracy of the solutions"
+ nicest pics, photos and graphical layout. countless supporting illustrations. modern.
+ consistent and logical notation throughout (body rotation is always 'omega', coordsys rotation always 'OMEGA') and detailed full explanations of vector symbols and their resolution to coordsys axes
+ comprehensive: covers all topics (all standard topics)
+ up to six supporting examples per chapter subsection. many!
+ numerous additional probs (see companion website, see Appendix for FE Exams)
+ great examples. with full use of vector analysis, vector calculus. Shames4 has even better examples, but Shames4 has not as many as Hibbeler10. So read also Shames4-examples!
+ after reading a full section, you *will* be able to apply the concepts!
+ neat coverage of 3-dim rigid body kinetics. Hibbeler is here better than Meriam5 but a bit worse than Shames4. All books cover this topic simply too short, unfortunately.
+ full use of 3-dim's in particle motion. spicey extra equations: tan 'psi', cylindrical coord's, 'rho' curvature y(x), bi-normal vector, etc.
+ if price plays a role: check out the Combined Value Added package at: http://tinyurl.com/295yr Great deal!!
+ excellent companion website with additional 1000 online problems. many other printed supplements etc. Top product support.
Yep, a few Con's are still there:
- no intro of sherical coord's
- incomprehensive treatment of particle systems (*very* irritating!)
- no rigorous math derivations of formulas (all omitted!), instead presentation of ready-to-use-formulas in coloured boxes. not very serious procedure, but common for a Book4Dummies. too concise at times.
- confusing, un-unified treatment of moments/products or inertia
- low quality page paper. small-size formatted book. physical quality not as outstanding as Meriam5.
- lousy, valueless appendix
- too few problems, and only a few challanging. lack of illustrations here!
- problem set is worse than Meriam5(best!),Shames4(great!but too few), and BeerJohnston7(good!numerous)
to sum up, i have compared four major texts: Meriam5, Shames4, BeerJohnston7 and Hibbeler10. All are okay, none is perfect, and in many respects they are equal/similar. Differences are tiny, very fine, but for taking a final decision, they are crucial. if you have read my reviews on the other three texts, there s not much to add here. I finally chose Hibbeler's as my picture book and problem set collection book. Top-choice. Have a close look at it *before* you decide for a different one (alternative: Meriam5)! might be a matter of taste between MERIAM5 and HIBBELER10. but *never* BJ7!!! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

The best beginning SPC book on the market
Dr. Wheeler has given a major contribution to the field of statistical process control in this work. With depth and breadth of material, Wheeler has created a simple yet powerful guide to a topic that at times can be quite intimidating to the statistically untrained. With his simple and illustrative presentation style, this book is easily accessible to all levels of practitioners - professional statisticians will enjoy and benefit from the book as well as novices in the field. While only taking two or three hours to read, it is a treasure-trove of information and we have successfully used it as a textbook in a basic seminar in statistical process control. I think this is an important and landmark piece of work, quite worthy to be mentioned in the same breath with works from legendary figures in the field such as Deming and Shewhart

Great book for understanding SPC and process control
My manager at work recommended this book to me as I was about to begin an SPC project. This book was a lifesaver. Wheeler has made SPC easy to understand. As a beginner, I found the work invaluable and I still use it for reference material today

Enlightening
I am a non-technical, non-mathematician, steeped in Deming-oriented Continuous Improvement, which I teach at university-level. This is simply the best (and easiest to read) book on the subject of 'control-chart' based SPC. It's in a class all by itself. It's an enlightening book about Life. It will change the way you look at and understand phenomenon. I wish Wheeler would write a series of such books, treating the rest of mathematics in as enlightening and cogent a fashion.

Deming for Dummies
Wheeler serves up the best concise easily understood description I have ever seen for both statistical process control and the Deming management philosophy. No executive or manager responsible for imporving an organization can afford ignorance of the information in this compact volume. A leader blessed with competent statisticians may find that Wheeler's book suffices without other material covering the matter in greater depth. Leaders lacking support from statistically sophisticated staff may feel a need to stiffen their understanding with Deming's _Out of the Crisis_ and _The New Economics for Industry, Government, Education_. Even without a thorough understanding of continuous improvement philosophy, Wheeler's book, properly applied to your business, should easily offer an RoI well over 1,000,000%.

It takes SIX years to realize the power of this book
I have read this book since 1996; but, I can just feel the power of Wheeler's thought and techniques when I attend a seminar for Safety Professionals in PAPUA today ( Jan 23, 2002 ). Yes, we have been thoroughly cultivating Wheeler's profound breakthrough amidst one of the densest rainforest. ... Read more

Book Description

If You're Thinking About Building A Home, whether you want to be your own General Contractor, and SAVE up to 50,000 Dollars or more, or you want to hire a builder, there are many things that you absolutely must know to avoid costly errors and mistakes. "HOW TO PLAN, SUBCONTRACT AND BUILD YOUR DREAM HOUSE" has been written by Warren V. Jaeger, a Master Designer-Builder, with more than 45 years experience. Thirty four chapters, more than 130,000 words, and dozens of diagrams take you step by step through the entire building process with practical advice and real life examples. Learn what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and how to get it done!

But, before you even think about construction, PART ONE guides you through: lot evaluation, drainage, sloping sites, public water and sewer connections, well drilling, septic systems, zoning, wet lands, flood plains, deeds and restrictions, easements, foundation designs and many vital considerations and decisions you must make long before you hire a builder or start to build. Part two covers: how to get plans, when plans are worthless, types of builders, how to choose the building process.Part three covers: the detailed process of construction, mortgages, financial discipline, hiring subcontractors, scheduling and supervision.

There are great chapters on Radon, Principles of Electricity, Energy Saving Windows, and much much more. You will save many times the cost of this book alone by following Proper Insulation Techniques and Construction Methods revealed by the author.

WARREN V. JAEGER explains the 69 essential rules of construction learned through his many years of practical experience. They cost him money to learn, and they will save you money if you follow them. Because the scope and detail of this book is so comprehensive we are including the complete Table of Contents so you can appreciate all the thing that are covered which you need to know to succeed.

You wouldn't remove an appendix, or represent yourself in court, without the necessary knowledge. Don't undertake an expensive building project without getting the information you must have to succeed. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

My Home Building Bible
This is a wonderful and very comprehensive book covering every aspect of building a house in all climates. It contains information that I have not seen anywhere else. i.e. The chapter on looking at and evaluating a building site is very informative and insightful. Every step of the construction process is explained in detail. There are diagrams showing construction details, grading techniques and even showing how to survey and lay out a foundation yourself. There are special chapters on understanding electricity and it's role in your home, Radon and most importantly in this time of rising energy costs, how to insulate for maximum effect for both heating and cooling in hot and cold climates. I especially enjoyed the anecdotes and real life examples taken from the authors vast experience. Mr. Jaeger has the knack of explaining complicated things in a clear and easy to understand way. I am most impressed with his offer to answer all reader questions by E-mail and I can verify he keeps his word on that. I've never before heard of an author offering free consultation but he does. He answers all questions about the book and/or your own project. I read the prior "review" by "greeba" and I wonder how much of the book she actually read because she missed all the important lessons. She admits she got her knowledge from watching "The Brady Bunch" so how much can you expect? The paper is standard paper used for high speed electronic printing and I only noticed a few minor typos. The line drawings are technical diagrams, not illustrations. If you want pictures I suggest you watch the television programs that show all aspects of actual building in progress. Check out, "Hometime", Bob Villa's "Home Again" and "This Old House". Actually, I thought the picture of the Taj Mahal (the ultimate dream house) on the cover was a neat touch. What Mr. Jaeger provides from his 45 years experience as a pro builder, that pictures cannot supply, are the techniques and strategies of planning, managing and coordinating a construction job and a vast wealth of information you wouldn't ever think of. The most important lesson is Mr. Jaeger's instruction on how to get sub-contractors to do what you want willingly and how to keep them showing up. He also tells you how to avoid the pit falls and rip offs common in the construction game. This book is my home building Bible. The value of a book is not in the paper or a few typos or some pretty pictures as "Greeba" thinks. The real value is the information it contains. This book will help you save many thousands of dollars and contains all the information you will need. Any questions? Ask the author. For a proper perspective on this book check out all the reviews especially the one by George Ehrenhaft, an experienced builder. HE knows what he is talking about.

Very handy book but not complete
I found this book very helpful. The author tells goes into extreme details for his home preferances. Since he does not like basements he does not go into great detail about pouring foundations for full basements. There are a couple of things like that. All in all I think he does an excellent job at stearing you around the big bumps. Luckily my concrete guy is my cousin so we had no problem at all. This book will however give you a ton of great ideas, and help you to plan everything well but if you know squat about the building process I would but more technical books in addition to this one. I worked for a general contractor through college so I am pretty handy. My advise is if you are planning on building your own home, congratulations and good luck. Most people that I have talked to say that it is too stressful, and they'll never do it again. If you are like me you will welcome the challenge. It is one of the most rewarding things you can do. I worked my full time job and did this and it not only gave me more energy than I have had in a while but it helped me get in shape from sitting behind this desk full time. You can always blow off the gym but you have to go to the site everyday.

Voice of experience--good advice
The best part of this book is its easygoing style. Written seemingly entirely from memory, you'll understand and remember every word. The author skips the commonly available info and writes about the crucial nuts-and-bolts problems of building a house: what do you do if you've drilled a hundred foot well and come up dry? (Keep drilling.) His advice on some details, vapor barriers for example, is OK but you'll want to check the latest thinking on the topic too. Some harmless misinformation is passed along, like that Palladio, eponym for those short-tall-short windows, "invented" them. (He may have invented residential architecture, but those windows date to antiquity. In his day they were known as serliana, after the architect Sebastian Serliano.) The scientific explanations fall a bit short, and the chapter where he disparages Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's engineering does not show him in a good light. However he does caution you that drywallers, more than any other trade, will try to rip you off with a high materials estimate. Stuff like that you can't get anywhere else.

Great first source
If you want to have a house built, this is a great book to start with. The author is a general contractor who has seen it all and wants to educate readers about the building process. His intention is to prevent others from the pitfalls and scams of building, and simultaneously he explains the science behind plumbing, electricity, sewarage, insulation etc. He also discusses the attitudes and scams of subcontractors and local bureaucrats. This is not a how-to book; the purpose is to educate you enough so that you know what questions to ask as your house goes up.

He begins with purchasing the land and ends with the final detailing of the house. He includes interesting anecdotes to make his points. I was impressed his ability to go from the abstract to simple things usually overlooked. Although I was lost in the section on laying the foundation, the book was written simply, and is easy to follow.

My only criticisms are limited. There are occasional typing errors (I'm an English teacher) and a need for a few more illustrations. The author can also be opininated about his person tastes in decor and such, but I found that to be humorous and endearing. Finally, I don't think the book is titled incorrectly. Yes, you should read it if you want to be your own gerneral contractor. But I think this book is more about the risk involved in doing that. After 20 pages, I was convinced I would definately want a general contractor.

Had a lot of useful tips, but lacked a few key areas
I would actually give it 4 1/2 stars if I was able. The book had many useful tips concerning windows, framing and insulating to produce an energy efficient house. It also had tips for hanging drywall, planning lighting and measuring techniques, as well as tips for dealing with contractors and inspectors; all of which are helpful. The authors distaste for basements leads to an absense of information on poured basements which are the standard in my area. He continually pushed slab houses and only had block wall basements as an example. This was disappointing. Not being a plumber, I also would have liked more information on tapping into city sewer and water and into gas lines. Most of his examples were of a septic system and well. The book was not edited well, as it had many spelling errors. If you are not looking for a novel, this should not bother you much because the information in the book is simple and very benificial. It is well worth the purchase price and should save you a lot of money and headaches if you decide to build your own house. ... Read more

Book Description

Updated with new transportation and structural design codes for the breadth-and-depth civil PE exam, the ninth edition of the Civil Engineering Reference Manual is the most comprehensive exam resource available to engineers. Every exam subject is reviewed clearly and completely. Almost 500 example problems reinforce key concepts. Hundreds of tables, charts, and other data are included, and indexes for both subjects and data let you retrieve specific information rapidly. This new edition will not only help you prepare successfully for the PE exam but also serve you well as a desk reference when you receive your license.

This book is part of Professional Publications's Engineering Review Series, used by over 700,000 engineers to pass their licensing exams. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

This is the one you need
As you can read from other reviews, this book is the one reference that is used most during the PE exam (very true). The subjects are well organized with many example problems; however, I did catch some errors. The book is very much geared towards the test and I found even the most obscure items somehow referenced in the text. If you plan on doing extensive study I recommend buying the solutions manual to the sample problems as a study guide to help work through the civil engineering disciplines that you do not practice.

The book gets the job done, the first time
I just received my civil PE license, after taking the exam once, thanks in large part to Michael Lindeburg and this book. Not only did CERM have just about everything I needed to study for and then take the exam, but Mr. Lindeburg also provides personal help with questions about how problems are solved, possible errata, etc. It's rare to find this kind of commitment from an author. I highly recommend CERM and the sample exam to all civil PE candidates. (I'm going to keep it as a desk reference now that I've passed--it's that useful.)

Great for a starting point-get practice problems for Geotech
I agree with other users on the great index and also explains clearly phase diagram and their formulas. As I and others can attest to, we have long needed a practice oriented book for the Geotech PM Depth. Improve your odds and get Geotechnical review book by soilstructure.com My copy is well worth the price.

Worthwhile investment
I bought this reference to use for studying for the PE, along with its accompanying study guide; however, I ended up studying only about 4 hours before the PE test. I made my first pass through each session using my normal references, leaving blank any difficult to find problems. I then went back through with this book. I passed the test (in 2002), but in hindsight, I would have done it the other way, That is, use the CE Reference first and then try my other books. This book is a real time saver, and the index is very thorough. I also use it regularly in practice. For perspective, I took the "Water Resources" test.

Perfect companion for the morning session
This book is more or less standard-issue for PE-takers (come exam day, you'll see zillions of the CERM scattered throughout the exam hall). If you find yourself on the fence about shelling out the $$ for it, I've found it to be a good investment.

Having recently taken and passed the PE exam, I can attest to this book's usefulness. The index, in particular, I found to be pretty expansive - I used it to find answers to more than one problem where I was fairly clueless.

Please note, the CERM's utility is certainly highest on the morning (breadth) section. Although it won't be entirely useless on the afternoon (depth) portion of the exam, you'll definitely utilize other references more heavily. I, for one, was impressed by how lopsided the difference in difficulty between sections turned out to be.

Regardless of exam section, each question is equally weighted; thus, it's best to "clean house" where it's easiest - in the morning. You'll find this manual quite useful for that.

My $0.02... ... Read more

Book Description

Sections on important areas such as spread spectrum, cellular communications, and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing are provided.
* Computational examples are included, illustrating how to use the computer as a simulation tool, thereby allowing waveforms, spectra, and performance curves to be generated.
* Overviews of the necessary background in signal, system, probability, and random process theory required for the analog and digital communications topics covered in the book. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not Limited to Swimlane Diagrams
To me, the chapters on data modeling and use case modeling are the most valuable because I now see them in the context of process modeling. I am wondering if W. H. Inmon's book on the operational data store would help complete this "big picture." Readers of this book benefit from the very extensive experiences of the authors. The authors have seen it all and warn readers which roads are dead ends. This book includes both theory and prescriptions as to how teams can design and document processes and contribute to the alignment of technology with the needs of the organization.

Swimlane Diagramming For Analysts Doing Requirements
This book nicely sets forth a detailed methodology for doing swimlane diagramming for workflow business processing. This book is for analysts; the discussion is about the nature of business processes that have workflow as a key characteristic. It is not about the architecture of computer solutions for such processes. If you follow the methodology in this book and flesh out the diagrams with use cases (just briefly touched on here), you will have captured most of the requirements for a business workflow process.

The book is nicely bound and well written. The authors have been around a while and the vocabulary and approach fit nicely with older concepts like business process reengineering. The authors are not unaware of the latest developments and "UML" crops up here and there but not in the index. The diagramming is very simple compared to UML activity diagrams.

This is good reading for the domain experts on a team working on the requirements document and a nice primer for geeks who are forced for the first time to talk to the business side of an enterprise.

Comprehensive, fresh and, yes, exciting
Rarely do I get excited about books on workflow modeling. I have a few good books on the subject, all of which provide solid approaches and most of which are well written. This book stands out because it goes beyond merely "solid" or "well written" by giving one of the most comprehensive approaches to workflow modeling I've had the pleasure of reading.

First, like most books on the topic, none of the components of the approach are new. What makes the approach refreshing is the way the authors take standard techniques and tie them together into a coherent process. Second, this book can be used as a workbook during a workflow modeling project, and is well suited to this because of the numerous checklists and diagrams that will prove invaluable every step of the way. Finally, this is the first book of its kind that incorporates use cases, making it invaluable to project teams that have standardized on UML (Unified Modeling Language)or wish to integrate an object-oriented approach into a workflow modeling project. If you're not familiar with use cases I strongly recommend Writing Effective Use Cases by Alistar Cockburn (the best book on the subject in my opinion); UML Distilled by Fowler and Scott is an excellent introduction to that subject if it's new to you.

The approach is straightforward: frame the process and define its scope, understand the existing process (if there is one), design the "to-be" process and develop use case scenarios. I wish to offer one caveat at this point: if you are reengineering a process that is seriously broken you might consider skipping the "as-is" process. Understanding the existing process is useful if your goal is incremental improvement. Reengineering efforts usually radically transform existing processes, making efforts to understand them both moot and wasted.

Some of the highlights of this book include the authors' clear definitions and way of decomposing complex systems into discrete steps and components. For example, they use a five tier view of processes that ensures you have a complete view of all issues and factors. The views are: (1) mission, strategy and goals (I personally extend goals further into Goal-Question-Metric), (2)business processes, (3) presentation, (4) application logic and (5) data. Note that the last three align nicely to a 3-tier client/server architecture. This observation clearly shows how coherent the authors' approach is and how it can foster alignment of technology to business requirements.

I also like how the authors clarify the key issues in process design by pointing out six enablers that you need to account for during the analysis and design phase: (1)workflow, (2) technology, (3) human resources, (4) motivations and measurements, (5) policies and rules and (6) environmental constraints (facilities, external process capabilities, etc.). There is one minor point of disagreement I have between their workflow modeling technique and the one I use. The authors use swimlane diagrams (also called Rummler-Brache diagrams), while I use deployment diagrams. The difference? Swimlane diagrams do not capture phases or cycles. I always place workflows into the context of Entry Criteria-Task-Validation-Exit Criteria (ETVX), which is nearly identical to the TQM Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle. I insist on ETVX because it allows me to spot missing validation points in an existing workflow, and ensures that I clearly define entry and exit criteria, as well as validation points in a "to-be" workflow. Of course I am stating personal preferences - following the authors' approach verbatim will definitely result in a workflow design that is not only "bulletproof", but will align information systems and business process almost perfectly.

This book is a gem. It's readable, full of ideas and, with the incorporation of use cases into the approach, completely up-to-date with respect to IS/IT methodologies. If you want a fresh, modern approach to workflow design this book is the only one that will provide it.

The best book on applicacation development modeling to date.
If you've ever asked the question: Is there a great book that teaches an excellent methodology for analyzing real world workflow, and then designing the application that will implement that workflow into an application? I've found the book that answers that question.

Workflow Modeling is the book. It is the best book on the subject that I have read to date, and I've read dozens. It teaches you how to build visual models that illustrate the workflow process, and shows how to implement the model into an application. Superb! But it before it goes out of print. ... Read more

Book Description

Inventory accuracy starts with an understanding of the conditions under which errors occur and ends with error-resistant processes, intelligent use of technology, a well-trained and highly motivated workforce, and an ongoing process of continuous improvement. In between, there’s cycle counting, root cause analysis, process evaluation, user interface design, procedures, employee training, accountability, control methods, process checks, audits, exception reporting, transaction techniques, measurement, counting methods, bar codes, RF systems, speech-based technology, light systems, and software.

Inventory Accuracy: People, Processes, & Technology covers all of these topics and more in a comprehensive treatment of the subject of inventory accuracy in distribution, fulfillment, and manufacturing environments. In addition to documenting the standard tools and techniques used to achieve accuracy, the author provides insights as to why many of the standard solutions don’t provide the best results and offers alternative methods. The focus on practical solutions that take into account the sometimes-conflicting priorities that affect accuracy, results in an approach that not only looks good on paper, but more importantly, works in the real world. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Essential Warehouse Manager's Desk Reference
If you are responsible for the integrity of your company's inventory, then I strongly recommend that you read "Inventory Accuracy". Written in plain English, with an emphasis on the practical, this book contains a wealth of valuable tips and techniques for both the new and seasoned warehouse manager. While thoroughly addressing current technology, the book also emphasizes the importance of the human factor.

A good read and an invaluable tool...

Excellent book on what is still important ... Inventory!
I greatly enjoyed the new book, especially the detailed sections on measuring accuracy, cycle counting, combining count logic selections in creation of a count, the "bin locator" versus the "warehouse management" systems, and count variances.

The practical information continues even into warehouse personnel issues - such as shrinkage and the wide variety of people personalities that are involved in shrinkage.

Many effective and practical tips are provided for the technical AND non-technical operations professional. If you are a warehouse manager or supervisor - then you should get a copy of this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The seventh edition of Mechanical Engineering Design marks a return to the basic approaches that have made this book the standard in machine design for over 40 years. At the same time it has been significantly updated and modernized for today's engineering students and professional engineers.

Working from extensive market research and reviews of the 6th edition, the new 7th edition features reduced coverage of uncertainty and statistical methods.Statistics is now treated (in chapter 2) as one of several methods available to design engineers, and statistical applications are no longer integrated throughout the text, examples and problem sets.

Other major changes include updated coverage of the design process, streamlined coverage of statistics, a more practical overview of materials and materials selection (moved to chapter 3), revised coverage of failure and fatigue, and review of basic strength of materials topics to make a clearer link with prerequisite courses.

Overall coverage of basic concepts has been made more clear and concise, with some advanced topics deleted, so that readers can easily navigate key topics. Problem sets have been improved, with new problems added to help students progressively work through them.

The book has an Online Learning Center with several powerful components: MATLAB for Machine Design (featuring highly visual MATLAB simulations and accompanying source code); the "FEPC" finite element program, with accompanying Finite Element Primer and FEM Tutorials; interactive FE Exam questions for Machine Design; and Machine Design Tutorials for study of key concepts from Parts I and II of the text.Complete Problem Solutionsand PowerPoint slides of book illustrations are available for instructors, under password protection. A printed Instructor's Solutions Manual is also available, with detailed solutions to all chapter problems. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Mechanical Engineer's Bible
Shigley has and always will be my definitive guide whenever I need to do design. Great book that covers a vast scope of work.

Needs and Editor
-- Shigley is dead both literally and figuratively!!!
Quite possibly the worst book I have ever had for a class. I have seen the previous editions and they were good, the latest edition (7th) is terrible. It appears they tried to update the 5th and 6th editions by changing the end of chapter problems, but didn't bother to update some of the answers in the solution manual. In addition, they use equations in the solutions that aren't in the book. Which leaves the student trying to figure out where they got the answers.
In several cases they added additional equations to the book that can be used to solve for the same parameters without giving any guidance on which equation to use (they all produce different results). Plus by adding pieces and parts of additional equation and tables all over the place the book forces the user to turn back and forth between numerous sections.
To streamline (i.e. put in order) and correct the the book the instructor made over 100 pages of supplements to the text. Having to write >100 pages to make a 1000+ page book understandable is ridiculous.

A reference
As a Mechanical Engineer that's been out of college for a few years, I find that I turn to this book on a weekly, or at least monthly, basis. My version is the 5th addition (the old grey cover of most past editions).

As people have noted, you don't learn from this book. If you want more in-depth looks at statics, dynamics, etc - you'll still go back to your core textbooks. But, for example, if you want a formula to figure out the torque required for given loads transmitted by feed screws, you'll turn here.

This book isn't Marks' handbook - but then again, it's easier to flip to a page for a subject and not wade through all of Marks' 1200 pages. It also isn't the Machinery's Handbook - giving you oodles of charts for different materials, fasteners, and what not. But it's a great bridge between the core textbooks and the very heavy (and tiny print) handbooks.

There isn't an ME in my company that I haven't seen a version of this on his shelf. Almost all of them have it heavily tabbed. And as one said when he opened mine (which wasn't quite as broken in), "my copy usually falls open to the right page".

I would highly recommend any of the version's of Mr. Shigley's book in whichever edition (all the names after Shigley keep changing). But I don't think I need to - as every ME will have to buy this his senior year.

Awful book
This is quite possibly the worst text book that I have ever used. I am a student at RIT the college at which Budynas teaches, hence we use this book. This book is not very clear at all. It uses equations in examples and never references where they come from. It doesn't explain how to do hardly anything worth a darn. In a few of the chapters it references tables and charts that don't exist. The tables in the back of the book are half-way done and dont give all the necessary information. I do not like this book one bit and hope that it will be edited many times over because there where many things missed in editing this time around

Good machine design book for engineers
I won't repeat the whole table of contents here, but the book covers most aspects of machine design-deflection, strength, fatigue, materials selection, bearings, screws, joining methods, and gears. However, cam design is not covered. There is some very useful information basic failure analysis. I think the book does a good job of cross referencing material in different sections of this book and other books by Shigley and Mischke. The book also provides some rules of thumb that can be useful if the engineer doesn't have much experience in a particular area. The section on weld strength is very useful for machine design. The math may be a little strong for non-engineers. In summary, this is a useful book for both mechanical engineering students and practicing mechanical engineers. ... Read more

Book Description

* Since 1913, the single source blockbuster for all essential information on designing, installing, operating, and maintaining electrical systems and equipment
* Includes advancements in fiber optic cables, grounding, arc-fault circuit interrupter devices, and transient voltage surge suppressors
* Complete with the latest updates on National Electrical Code(R), National Safety Code, and NEMA motor and generator standards
* Features new information on high efficiency motors and electronic control of motors
* Provides the latest developments in circuit calculations, transformers, wiring tables, lamp applications tables, and more ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not a handbook
I would NOT recommend this book to any electrician, engineer, or architect. It is extremely difficult to comprehend. Gaining any practical information from this book is futile. I have had the twelfth edition over ten years. I used it to study for the electricians exam. I hated it then. Since that time, I have found it to be a very poor reference book. The thirteenth edition is no better. I understand why some electrician training schools might use this book - it is very comprehensive. It would make a good reference for a classroom lesson plan, but not a direct teaching tool. If you want to learn the material in this book, get the National Electric Code Handbook (and related materials published by the NFPA) and appropriate textbooks. FYI - I am a licensed electrician and a registered professional engineer.

A patchwork monster
Another motley McGraw-Hill product. First copyrighted in 1913. The author appears to have died prior to 1976, and the book has been maintained by hired help. Don't try to use this as a textbook; treat it as a reference only. You never really know whether some item is up to date or 50 or 80 years old. Examples: There is a lot of treatment of two-phase (yup, 90 degrees) power, including at 25 hertz, and of multi-kilovolt series incandescent streetlighting, plus knob and tube wiring. Also, it is stated that the highest radio frequency in use is 30 megahertz, whereas in reality we're up to 1,000 or 2,000 times that just now. This book is a curiousity; charming if you have the cash, but if you don't, maybe you should be getting something more coherent.

A Must For Every Serious or Professional Electrician
W A R N I N G: This book is not for the weekend repairman!!!

This is a very intense book for the professionals or for someone who would like to further their knowledge. This truely might be the last book an electrican will ever buy. A must for your library!

An Electrician's Life-saver
I originally purchased this book on the recommendation of another electician. Many electrician training schools use this same book to teach their students. I found it to be easy to comprehend, and to be a wealth of information that has helped me enormously in my work, and to prepare for Electrician's exams. I would recommend this to any electrician (Apprentice, Journeyman, etc. I have used and abused mine so much, that it's time for me to purchase another copy - that's how useful a tool it is. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good collection of concepts
This book has a very good collection of most of the concepts related to RFID and is very useful especially for beginners in RFID. I gave only 4 stars as I was dissappointed not to see any examples for any or almost all the concepts explained. For what it costs, I think it makes sense to add some examples liked to some important concepts.

Great book for understanding the concepts and applications
If you are an Engineer looking to understand the history, technical aspects, implementation, standards and details of RFID systems, this book provides an excellent introduction for you.

The chapters are well laid out and paced. The author explains the most common devices and systems available in the market, their technology and concepts quite well. Most of the RFID related standards have been covered along with relevant examples. The author covers such things as the hardware design specifications for devices, software requirements, and some basic RF concepts that are required to understand Transponder and Receiver designs.

If you need specifics about recent products however, you might want to research for other sources of information because this book does not cover vendors and products in detail. For readers without technical background, the book introduces the concepts well; but some content might not be relevant because of the [technical] nature. ... Read more

Book Description

A richly illustrated and up-to-date source of practical guidance and hard-to-find technical data on all aspects of landscape lighting

The Landscape Lighting Book, Second Edition shows you how to achieve a wide range of beautiful and dramatic lighting effects. You'll get expert guidance and advice on the theory, design process, project needs, and techniques of landscape lighting. You'll find prizewinning projects designed by the author and other landscape lighting professionals throughout the United States. Plus, hundreds of diagrams, drawings, and black-and-white and full-color photographs illuminate topics and provide visually stunning insights into new and creative ways that lighting can transform landscapes. This fully updated edition covers the latest technologies and equipment and features new chapters on installation, documentation, and seasonal lighting. You'll also find:

• Guidelines for preparing lighting drawings, control and transformer charts, symbol lists, and other technical specifications
• Design strategies for avoiding potential conflicts between plantings and landscape lighting equipment
• Accurate performance characteristics of all lighting materials, finishes, and fixtures
• The best ways to locate fixtures, set appropriate light levels, and perform preventive system maintenance
• The special lighting needs of plants in indoor environments
• A complete listing of fixtures, controls, lamps, and accessories manufacturers and vendors

Whether you're seeking to sculpt a landscape with light or make an outdoor space useable at night, The Landscape Lighting Book, Second Edition shares all the technical and creative insights you'll need to beautify your landscaping projects and consistently win client approval. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

expert opinion
Still the best book for the professional.Invaluable resource for architects, landscape architects and landscape lighting designers.Broad and deep with plenty of technical information.I purchased this book in1992 and I bought it again today (an electrician friend "lost" myoriginal copy).A second edition (if planned) should include betterinformation about transformer regulation (the ability of a low voltagelighting transformer to maintain 12v under load) and voltage drop (thedreaded decrease in voltage through the main supply cable) which arepresented as formulae rather than actual measurements.Great photographsmostly of large scale projects.This book should be in every outdoorlighting designer's library. ... Read more

Book Description

* The most comprehensive of all current chemical engineering texts on unit operations; covers fluid mechanics, heat transfer, mass transfer, and solids handling
* Contains a balanced treatment of theory and engineering practice, with many practical illustrative examples included
* Includes a mass transfer section containing chapters on absorption and membrane operations--topics not often covered in unit operations textbooks ... Read more

Reviews (9)

fluid mechanics ,transprtation of fluids
it is the best books i have ever read in my semester ofchemical engineering. the topic i like the most, is transportation offluids .this book is recommended by my professor. the matter of turbulent flow and laminar flow is just fantastic.

thank you!

This book is inadequte
I feel that this book is inadequte for students and professionals alike. It does not explain well how systems act in real life situations, like most academia books

Good for students yet too general for professionals
I work in the chemical operations sector. I will highly recommend this book for 3rd or 4rth year future chemical engineers. It contains viable information on many units that they will just have to know about. However, I will not recommend it for working operation engineers. It is too general for us, it doesn't problem shoot units such as pumps and compressors. I don't think that I have much use for this book, specially that I own the Perry's Handbook.

This book is an annotated index to Perry's
Warning: This is not a textbook. Basically, they took out some of the stuff from Perry's and rewrote it more carefully and filled in some of the details. In general, this book is hard to read, missing important things, and burdened with unimportant things. It really does no justice to the quality and quantity of amazing insight inside the head of Peter Harriott (from whom I've taken classes). I can't deny that it makes an awesome reference book, but woe to any class that depends on this book.

This is a ChemE Must
I went to cornell where Prof. Harriot teaches. This book is a must for reference. There are points where it is a little difficult but it is really a overall good book. ... Read more

Book Description

The completely revised and updated "bible"of new product development: The PDMA Handbook of New Product Development, Second Edition.

The PDMA Handbook of New Product Development, Second Edition provides a comprehensive, updated picture of what you as a manager need to know for effective new product development. The book's concise, map-like detail acts as a compass, offering practical information pertaining to every stage of the product development process -- from idea generation to launch to the end of the life cycle.

Whether you're a novice or an expert, this edition is ideal as it provides both fundamentals and reliable information on advanced and emerging concepts such as accelerated product development, new product development globalization and benchmarking, and Web-based concept development. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Product Marketing Professionals - BUY THIS BOOK!
The PDMA Handbook is one of those rare and valuable books that characterizes a "body of knowledge" for a professional discipline. It was produced by the preeminent industry organization for New Product Development (NPD) professionals, the PDMA .... This text describes current, best practices in NPD and includes contributions from knowledge leaders in academia, consulting, and industry practice. If you are a CEO, COO, CTO, Marketing Manager, Product Manager, Product Planner, Engineering Manager, Project Manager, Program Manager, or any other professional involved in new product development (especially for technically complex products like hardware and software) you really need this book.

Product Managers (should) perform the nitty, gritty, roll-your-sleeves-up: opportunity analysis, business case formulation, and requirements management for new products. Research shows that judicious performance of this critical pre-work is a key determinant in the ultimate market success of new products and is usually performed inadequately. Unfortunately, most professionals in such roles have had no formal training beyond an MBA (sometimes). The PDMA Handbook provides a comprehensive treatment of virtually all the subject areas new product development (business) managers need to understand to drive the success of their endeavors. Want to know the key success factors for new products, understand value proposition, differentiation, features vs. benefits, uniqueness, sustainable competitive advantage, the fuzzy front end, pipeline management, how to plan a new product launch, manage a product portfolio, and more? This is the book you need. The PDMA Handbook is the Gray's Anatomy of product management. Buy it and READ it at least twice.

This book should have been read when it was published!
This book seem to be written by persons who really know what NPD (or NPI) really is. All those described mistakes possible to be done is made by me during last five years...this is a good book.

The area of NPD is large. Luckily people in PDMA have come to the right conclution: it is not possible for one person to handle the whole area throughly. Every chapter in this book is written by expert on his/her own area. Unfortunately the maximum size of one book restricts the possible space per one writer to include only the most vital parts into this book.

To whom I can recommend this book? --- To anyone who will to increase his/her own scope of NPD and especially to a person who already have gained some experience on this field and is able to compare his/her own experiece to this book.

Wonderful!
I purchased the PDMA Handbook on the strength of a review and have been very glad I did so.After quoting a few passage to my staff they began to borrow it, and now the Handbook has made the rounds of the office.It isworn and dog-eared, and quoted from on a daily basis.

The message of"treating each other with respect and dignity" by author Holahanet al has really struck a chord around here.Many of us believe she mustbe staunch Christian, one who lives her faith on a daily basis.

The PDMAHandbook has provided guidance in mapping out strategies for new serviceswe hope to bring to market as well as the way our organization is managed. It has changed the way we do business and the way we percieve the world.

Powerful New Author Appears in Useful Anthology
When reading a compilation of articles like the PDMA Handbook of New Product Development, it is much like tuning a radio looking for just the right station.Most stations are acceptable; a small number haveprogramming outside of anything to which I would listen.

But every oncein a while appears music as sweet and ethereal as Mozart's Magic Flute,where the opening bars lead to the simple floating thread of the soaringflute.The music combines with a cold, rainy day outside as the car glidessoundlessly on a road through wooded hills and life is perfect.

Thatmusic can almost be heard as the reader enters the chapter "FactorsAffecting Multifunctional Team Effectiveness" by (lead author) P.Holahan.Most of the chapters in the book are well written.The chapterby Holahan brings joy to the experience of reading.In addition, Holahanhas the gifts of insight and understanding combined with deep knowledge ofthe subject matter.It is a powerful combination and could easily lead toa new standard for learned business publications that will banish the usualdry prose forever. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The authors of Voice over IP Fundamentals--three packet-voice specialists at Cisco Systems--initiate their exploration of next-generation technologies for supporting conversations across large distances: the switched telephone network as implemented on large (intercontinental) and small (building and enterprise) scales. They then point out problems with the old way of doing things and illuminate the standards and regulatory conditions that have made Internet telephony attractive. Signaling System 7 (SS7) gets particularly insightful coverage, with ample graphical support for the clear, fact-rich, example-laden prose.

The authors do a great service for readers by breaking packet telephony into its component technologies and explaining each one carefully. Coverage of the various protocols that enable voice over IP, particularly H.323 and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), is simultaneously clear and deep. The same goes for media gateway protocols and various schemes for translating sounds into digital signals and back again, while retaining maximum clarity. There's even some practical material; concluding chapters diagram Cisco router configurations for voice traffic and flesh out solutions with case studies.

You'll like this book if you need to implement a voice over IP system and know more about IP than you do about traditional voice telecommunications. The patient and detailed explanations of traditional telephony concepts and voice over IP protocols will mesh nicely with your existing data communications knowledge, enabling you to make wise design and product decisions. --David Wall

Covered topics: The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), signaling specifications (including Bell System, ISDN, and Signaling System 7), the basics of Internet Protocol (IP), modulation and compression of voice, Quality of Service (QoS), H.323, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and gateway protocols. Business considerations of Internet telephony are also addressed. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Very good book on VoIP fundamentals
This book is the one to read if you want to know something about the basics of Voice Over IP and the protocols which are involved like H.323. It also gives you an introduction to the POTS ( plain old telephony service ) standards. So, if you are new to VoIP and want to read about it from the ground, buy this.

But it is not the right choice if you are searching for preparation material for the cisco #640-647 cvoice exam. For that exam you also have to know something about VoFR and VoATM, which is not covered deeply enough here.

Difficult book to read and understand
Although this book is but 15 chapters and 336 pages long it took me an incredible amount of time to read through it due to the complexity with which it was written. I've read several Cisco Press books in the same time it took to read this one! Further, I found myself asking the question over and over again, "If this book is about the fundamentals of Voice over IP and is 'A Systematic Approach to Understanding the Basics of Voice over IP', why is it difficult to grasp even the 'basics' as presented by the authors?" As stated in a previous review, the authors have a great understanding of the topics, however, like my Theory of Operating Systems instructor, they do not do well in 'dumbing' down that information to me, a layperson in this field. This book was definitely written by VoIP engineers for VoIP engineers, not for beginners like myself.

Best suited for Telephony engineers
Strong Points: -The people who wrote it are definitely knowledgeable: They have loads of information about almost every topic they discuss -Chapter organization: the chapters are well organized as far as the order in which to expose a reader to the topics, building up to the next. Weak Points: -In almost every chapter, the author(s) frequently mention or compare the topic being discussed with an actual Cisco product. While many people agree they make good products, including myself, this book should be about the VoIP as a standard (as the title implies), not Cisco's products. -The author(s) explain most topics by throwing tons of (or too much) information at the reader, including exceptions to the rule - all in the same sentence. Some of the key points are not even mentioned or elaborated on, while the author goes to point out small or insignificant details. -While discussing the history of Telephony and VoIP technology, the use of acronyms is unavoidable, but the author(s) overuses them to the extreme. At times, there are synonym acronyms that the author(s) will use randomly and interchangeably in the same chart, diagram or sentence; this is highly confusing. Also, there is no glossary, so you have to waste time flipping back through the pages to look up acronyms they spelled out once. Many acronyms are not even defined - they are just mentioned as casual talk to define other acronyms (so have your internet browser ready). -The author(s) frequently define topics and acronyms sections or chapters after they are first mentioned. This is also very confusing and frustrating. -The book is filled with charts and graphs. Most of them you really have to study to understand because they use many little pictures for which there is no legend, and some you flat our need an electrical engineering degree to understand.

Worth Reading, But of Limited Use
I've had the Davidson book on the shelf for about a year and finally picked it up for a careful read to help me prepare of Cisco's CVOICE exam. While the book is useful toward that end, I recommend it only cautiously.

No doubt part of the problem is mine; by background includes extensive data but very little voice experience. I found the topic Signaling System 7 and similar topics to be slow reading, and I questioned the value of the IP tutorial. A reader with the inverse of my background may have exactly the opposite experience.

This book is unusually dense with acronyms, even for a technical book. The nature of the topic makes acronyms unavoidable, but I felt the lack of a glossary was a serious deficiency. I frequently found myself flipping back and forth through the book to decode an acronym to no avail. Thorough readers might want to construct their own glossary with index cards.

I also had the sense, especially toward the end of the book, that I was getting less of an explanation of the technology than a simple compendium of features. This was especially evident in those thin sections on the Session Initiation Protocol, the Simple Gateway Control Protocol, the Media Gateway Control Protocol, and the Virtual Switch Controller. I found the sections on the H.323 Protocols and Quality of Service more useful and complete.

Given the ambitious scope of the book, I believe the author could have provided a more readable and understandable treatment with six or seven hundred pages rather than the three hundred plus provided. Still, I find my understanding of the subject to have increased substantially. It is a fact that there are few alternatives. I give the book a qualified recommendation. Read it slowly and carefully, mastering acronyms as you go, to maximize its value.

Fragmentation is necessary because of serialization delay
Fragmentation is necessary because of the time it takes to output bits in large frames on slow serial links. This time is called serialization delay and it is relevant for low-speed interfaces where delay-sensitive voice packets might need to wait a long time while a long frame is pushed out the interface, at say, 64 Kbps. Propagation delay is not the issue. This seems like a very basic telecommunications 101 issue that the authors should not have gotten wrong. ... Read more

Book Description

Treating such contemporary design and development issues as identifying customer needs, design for manufacturing, prototyping, and industrial design, Product Design and Development, 3/e, by Ulrich and Eppinger presents in a clear and detailed way a set of product development techniques aimed at bringing together the marketing, design, and manufacturing functions of the enterprise. The integrative methods in the book facilitate problem solving and decision making among people with different disciplinary perspectives, reflecting the current industry trend to perform product design and development in cross-functional teams. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great product development handbook!
This book provides a great hands-on approach to product development. Unlike other product development books that dwell too much on the philosophical aspects of product development, this book gives you practical advice on how to define meaningful product specifications to meet your customer needs and develop successful products. The book provides a very nice concept development process that I've found very useful.

This book is mainly focused on product development processes and does not provide much information on technology development. In addition, the book lacks depth in the strategic aspects of product development(such as market segmentation, strategic management of technology).

If you are looking for a very useful and powerful handbook for product development, this is the book you are looking for. However, if you are interested in the strategic aspects of product development, you may need other references.

great for teaching at any level, great methods
I have used this book extensively to teach undergraduate industrial design students, and graduate marketing, and engineering students who take small product development courses. It's focused, down to earth, practical, and students find they can grasp design issues better than in a more theoretical-philosophical way. I use it myself to guide my design consulting work, has helped me understand other product development (not design) issues that are relevant to me, and I have read it over and over.. great handbook. Production/design of the book is also very nice. It's a pitty McGraw Hill doesn't want to translate it to spanish (so the author told me once).

see blue
i am arash afrasiabi and i had red this book before i think it is really a good guide for specially industrial designers who want to start their job in this fild so and it can help you to manage your self and your project very well.

Practical, no-nonsense guide to really doing it.
Product Design and Development is a very practical, tools-based book. It is written in a way that each chapter can be used on its own (e.g., identifying customer needs, generating product concepts). We require all of our new engineers and designers to read the book and ask them to adhere to the methods associated with several of our "stage/gate processes." This is not a high-level strategy book; it tells you how to do product design and development in the trenches. Excellent book and worth every penny.

Applicable
This is a Product Development book that can explain technical side and process side accurately. This is a good reference for product development plan and activities. ... Read more