The customers prefer small lot sizes, multimodels with model variations, short delivery lead times, and low cost. The organization that cannot transition to the new manufacturing paradigm of buyer-centric strategy, their rigidity of the current mass production (seller-centric), will eliminate them from the industry. There are many organizations that implemented robotics and automation to reduced labor, but, they have also increased their changeover time and made the internal processes more complex, rigid and created imbalance to the flow due to the single-minded focus of only labor reduction. To survive and succeed in the fierce market competition, the organizations must transition to the new manufacturing paradigm. The organizations must develop their people capabilities, agility, speed, responsiveness and be able to deliver products at the lowest cost. The concept of mass production of large lot sizes and lesser model changeovers are not acceptable, this thinking must be evaporated to succeed in the new customer-centric business. This book introduces practically proven concepts that will transition the manufacturing organization from the mass production focus built on rigidity to a high-performing organization equipped with agility, flexibility, short lead times, multimodel production, and new organization culture that drives daily continuous improvement and problem-solving. This book shows the whats and hows to transition to the new manufacturing paradigm and successfully compete to win in the fierce customer-centric business.

The new industrial revolution in manufacturing is primarily focused on the implementation of smart manufacturing technologies leading to the factory of the future. This will require the machines, robots and processes to be digitally connected to deliver real-time analysis and monitor them for performance and efficiencies. To take advantage of these important digital technologies, the manufacturing processes and equipment must be operating very efficiently, predictable and the processes always need to be performing at their optimal levels. The factories of the future will have smart innovations operationalized with transformational digital technologies, new business models, and processes that will increase profits, reduce lead time, reduce human interventions, decrease product costs, enhance the consumer experience, and increase global market share by being relevant and responsive to any digital market disruptions. The lean manufacturing principles must be the foundation and constantly be strengthened so that smart manufacturing applications can be efficiently implemented to deliver the required manufacturing productivity and achieve customer responsiveness. To become a customer-driven company, the companies must become a solution provider and constantly improve the end to end supply chain. The goal of smart manufacturing is the value creation for the consumers and the advanced technological innovations to deliver sustainable top-line growth for the companies and to gain a bigger market share.

Terrorism: Commentary on Security Documents is a series that provides primary source documents and expert commentary on various topics relating to the worldwide effort to combat terrorism, as well as efforts by the United States and other nations to protect their national security interests. Volume 144, Autonomous and Semiautonomous Weapons Systems, examines the impact of robots and autonomous and semiautonomous weapons systems on the waging of modern warfare. It considers the likely effects of emerging technological innovations in this area from both a political and strategic standpoint, in addition to considering the implications of such technologies within the context of the law of armed conflict and international humanitarian law. This volume is divided into three sections: (1) U.S. policy and approaches to the use of autonomous and semiautonomous weapons systems; (2) U.S. armed forces use of such weapons systems; and (3) potential terrorist use of such weapons systems. Official policy documents from the DoD and the U.S. Army and Air Force are complemented by reports from the Strategic Studies Institute/Army War College Press and other U.S. military sources.

Workspaces and their design have a vast impact on the comfort and productivity of employees. Therefore, the structure of a workspace can be used to determine the socio-economic characteristics and elements that will appear in the employees that utilize them. Co-Manufacturing and New Economic Paradigms provides innovative insights into shared workspaces as independent socio-economic environments. The content within this publication explores the ideas of knowledge sharing, work culture, and economic planning. It is a vital reference source for entrepreneurs, business professionals, and researchers, and it covers topics centered on the importance of workspace design and organization.

Scientists have long been searching for a unified field theory--one answer to all of the questions about the physical universe. In this book, Rhett Larson takes a similar approach to social policy questions. What if we could find a unified social policy theory--the answer to every question from how to prevent war to how to promote gender equality? Most of our most serious global challenges are complex, multi-faceted "wicked problems." But perhaps the first step in solving wicked problems as seemingly distinct as racism and disease epidemics is the same: reform our laws, policies, and priorities to achieve global water security. Global water security means reasonable access for all people to water of acceptable quantity and quality with acceptable costs and risks. Just as the essential element to all life is water, so water is the essential element to solving life's challenges. Virtually every major social challenge--including gender inequality, racial discrimination, terrorism, space exploration, global disease epidemics, mass migrations, and climate change--has a significant and underappreciated water component. Each chapter of this book takes up one of these wicked problems, illustrates the role water plays in that problem, and proposes reforms to address the water aspect of that problem, with the aim of achieving global water security. The goal of this this book is to convince the reader that the answer, or at least one part of the answer, to our most serious problems is the oft-repeated catchphrase: "Just add water."