All I Need to Know About Manufacturing I Learned in Joe's Garage: World Class Manufacturing Made Simple (Paperback)

by William B. Miller (Author), Vicki L. Schenk. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MANUFACTURING I LEARNED IN JOE S GARAGE explains basic principles of customer focused, high quality, low cost, on-time business management. This international bestseller is endorsed by reviewers from Business Week and other publications, and by numerous business and educational leaders.

ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MANUFACTURING I LEARNED IN JOE S GARAGE is used by thousands of companies, large and small throughout the world, to improve profitability, performance, and employee satisfaction. The book uses a lighthearted short story that explains in easily understandable terms the concepts and techniques of 21st-century business management. It illustrates clearly how to forge a strategy for the future that will lead to outstanding personal and professional achievement.

...JOE'S GARAGE is a classic teaching fable valuable in all business functions. It is essential reading for anybody who wishes to understand how to succeed in today s environment of increasingly tough global competition. An annotated reading list and comprehensive glossary are provided.

Countless business leaders, educators, and publications agree that ...JOE's GARAGE is simply the best, and most cost-effective, roadmap for attainment of world class results.

From the Publisher
All I Need To Know About Manufacturing I Learned In Joe's Garage has earned THIRTY-TWO MAJOR ENDORSEMENTS! See below what educational and media figures, including a Business Week correspondent, say about ...Joe's Garage. Then read the praise from Bob Lutz (author of Guts: The Seven Laws of Business) and other leading executives in numerous industries: electronics, consumer products, industrial products, medical products, aerospace, and motor vehicles.

MEDIA AND EDUCATORS

"A quick intro to concepts of advanced production, in an easy-to-read format." by Jim Treece, Senior Correspondent, Business Week

"Simplest explanation of what it takes to achieve manufacturing excellence." by Training & Development

"Easy-reading book that will give you a quick education." by Design News

"Illustrates the principles of 21st-century manufacturing." by Quality Progress

"Teaches the basics of TQM and JIT in 45 minutes." by APICS

ELECTRONICS

"Must reading for anybody manufacturing anything." by Bill Jasper, President, Dolby

"Easy read that makes a dynamic impact." by Bill DeMalia, Quality Manager, Solectron

"Easy-to-read instant training on manufacturing." by Crista Hambleton, Sales Manager, Unisys

CONSUMER PRODUCTS

"Insightful - magic - easily understood and retained." by Mary Osmolski, Director, Stanley Production System, Stanley Works

"Easy-reading book that gets the point across about JIT, lower inventories, and other aspects of agile manufacturing." by David Gardner, Director of Production, Maytag

"Refocused our organization on fundamentals of World Class Manufacturing." by Dale Philippi, Vice President, Eureka

"Teaches the Toyota Production System in a simple manner." by Rocco Losito, Corp. Director of Quality, LA-Z-BOY

"Innovative and interesting." by Michael Naylor, Senior Vice President, Operations, Rubbermaid

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS

"Excellent. Universally applicable to all manufacturing processes." by Robert A. Lutz, Vice Chairman, General Motors

"Wraps up more lessons in a one-hour read than all the high-priced seminars you could attend." by John Guffey, Chief Executive Officer, Coltec

"Explains the basic principles of modern manufacturing management." by Scott Gibson, Vice President, Manufacturing and Engineering, Castrol

"Great overview of World Class Manufacturing processes and techniques." by Jack Murrell, Vice President, ITT Defense & Electronics

MEDICAL PRODUCTS

"Really helped change the thinking in our manufacturing organization." by Mike Eagle, Vice President, Manufacturing, Eli Lilly

"Perfect educational tool for production, sales, engineering - everybody!" by Jack Farnandez, Director of Operations, Advanced Cardiovascular Systems

AEROSPACE

"A short course in lean thinking, told in reader-friendly style." by Donald E. Westerheide, Vice President, Lockheed Martin

"Provides a great understanding of World Class Manufacturing as a strategic weapon." by John R. Black, Director, World Class Company Studies, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group

"Creates retained understanding of huge impact of creating and manufacturing a cost effective, quality product." by Ronald F. McKenna, Chief Operating Officer, Aerospace, Sundstrand

"A great easy reader - facilitates understanding of Lean Manufacturing concepts - highly recommended!" by Jon Enwiller, Lean Manufacturing Manager, AlliedSignal Aerospace

"Short, to the point, and easy to read; I like the book very much." by Stan Biga, Chief, Resource Development, Sikorsky Aircraft

"All the key issues we face today in readable, concise and understandable form." by James D. Lang, Director of Technology, New Aircraft and Missile Products, McDonnell Douglas Aerospace

MOTOR VEHICLES

"Simplest, most effective and still entertaining book I've read on principles of effective manufacturing." by Bill Shillingford, Plant Manager, Ford

"An entertaining yet insightful look at an entire manufacturing process all the way from the design phase to ultimate customer delivery." by Harry Lewis, Vice President, Chrysler

"A story that includes all the lessons to become a world class manufacturing facility." by Don Makie, Executive Vice President, Cambridge Industries

"Best overall explanation of the Toyota Production System." by Tom Faust, Vice President GROWTTH, Freudenberg-NOK

"Excellent lesson in modern manufacturing systems for ALL employees." by Mervin Dunn, General Manager, Arvin Ride Control

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Bayrock Press; Revised edition (August 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963043935
• ISBN-13: 978-0963043931
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #224,401 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An essential read for everybody, August 5, 2000

By A Customer

Our company originally bought this book because it was endorsed by Bob Lutz (one of the top business executives in the country), a Business Week writer, and numerous other leaders. We have since bought the book in large quantities because it is the best explanation of how to run a business.

The book explains how to do things simply, with high quality, utilizing effective methods that prevent mistakes. It shows how to get people involved with their own work. It shows how to keep costs (direct costs and indirect costs, such as inventory) low. And it shows how to do things RAPIDLY. Time is money.

The book also has a fantastic glossary and reading list for people who wish to go further in their education. It is a great book. It can change your life, or at least your work life.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book reveals some of the potential of WCM techniques., March 7, 1998

By A Customer

Although the title suggests a 'how to' approach to WCM, this 'how NOT to' is a fast read which opens the door (and possibly minds) to the prospect that mass and batch production methods have inherent flaws.

This work is well written and progresses quickly into an interesting scenario anyone working in manufacturing can identify with. Contemporary relationships between departments, workers, and managers are clearly articulated and are accurately described. Management, production control and material management functions are described in great detail, and reflect current operating practices in many organizations, both large and small.

The story is told from the perspective of a Manufacturing Engineer (Sandy) from the fictional Garrett Gear Company, and chronicles efforts to build a set of garage shelves using traditional batch manufacturing techniques. The work team is comprised of volunteers from Garrett Gear and others recruited by 'Joe' (VP of Manufacturing at Garrett). This is also the story of how Sandy is introduced to WCM techniques, aided by his neighbor and counterpart, Ralph Morita of Yamachi Gear (a competitor to Garrett).

This book will have a varying value to readers, depending on their background and position in their organization. There is nothing to be gained by senior or middle management, while first line supervisors may be able to decipher the "how NOT to's" and translate them into "how to's". Both supervisors and shop floor workers can benefit by relating to situations presented and recognizing wastes introduced BY the manufacturing process.

While the book is quick to point out flaws in current mass/batch production techniques, it comes up short in terms of solid solutions that can be implemented by supervisors or workers. The work contains several logical flaws, including comparing the industrial manufacturing environment to a home project, which may be akin to comparing capital costing in terms of a household budget. Others include stabs at unions, traditional production measurements, quality personnel, specific management structures, etc...

The book espouses several 'lean production' techniques, which will be useful to any reader. It contains many simple and easy-to-remember phrases that can be used as idea 'seeds' on the shop floor. The glossary is an EXCELLENT reference which I recommend highly.

In short, I recommend the book for shop floor personnel and first line leaders, but not for the purpose for which it was intended. I recommend the book as part of the cultural change process, which is a precursor to (or perhaps parallels) any WCM/Lean Manufacturing effort. This book will open minds to possibilities that may not have been previously explored in traditionally structured organizations, and may be used best in conjunction with The Day I Learned About Quality in Joe's Garage: High Quality Made Simple, and Manufacturing Beyond Joe's Garage: Value Based Manufacturing (both works by Wm. B. Miller, not yet available).

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an essential component of management education, September 3, 1999

By A Customer

The electronics industry requires rapid product development, quick turnaround on orders, low inventory and manufacturing costs, and high quality to satisfy customers in the face of cut-throat competition. This book has become our standard tool for building united enthusiatic teams at our company. It is easy to understand, and it conveys all the important strategies and tactics of world class manufacturing. As the president of Dolby says, it is must reading for anybody manufacturing anything. It has made the difference in our company's success, and for the motivation and financial rewards for our employees.