Recently, many new technologies have been developed for engineers to reduce the time required to design and manufacture products in response to rapidly fluctuating market demands. This book addresses a variety of contemporary methodologies, technologies and tools for rapid response manufacturing. The contributions to this volume focus on two major RRM areas: desktop manufacturing and computer and information technologies. Rapid Response Manufacturing is an invaluable resource for research engineers, product design and manufacturing engineers, graduate engineering students, and all those concerned with concurrent engineering.

Developed by the author and now being employed by a number of businesses, Quick Response Manufacturing (QRM) is an expansion of time-based competition, aimed at a single target with the goal of reducing lead times. The key difference between QRM and other time-based programs is that QRM covers an entire organization, from the shop floor to the office, to sales and beyond. Providing guidelines for establishing a QRM enterprise, this volume builds upon kaizen, TQM, TPM, and other practice to help organizations streamline all functions of their operation. It shows how to quickly introduce products, along with ways to rethink materials and production management.

Provides a summary of the projects the Air Force MANTECH Directorate has in progress or has completed within the last 10 years. Its purpose is to promote the transfer of technology which was developed through these investments into the defense industrial base.

Successful supply chain management is a source of competitive advantage in today's dynamic business environment. Relevant issues both at the strategic and operational levels of decision-making are considered in this book which provides the reader with an up-to-date analysis of the latest theoretical and practical trends in supply chain management. Using a variety of case-studies from different industry sectors, the book examines the various components of the supply chain, analyses the trade-offs that exist in achieving integration, and explores issues of organisation and implementation.

Features 45 of the latest manufacturing technologies.