Let's Fix It!: Overcoming the Crisis in Manufacturing (Hardcover)

by Richard J. Schonberger (Author) "The law of entropy has it that all things tend to run down..." (more)
Key Phrases: total continuous improvement, enduring techniques, sixteen principles, New York, United States, Free Press (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The global economy has ushered in competition from all corners of the earth, and manufacturers haven't changed their ways to accommodate the new order, says Richard J. Schonberger in Let's Fix It!: Overcoming the Crisis in Manufacturing. Having conducted research on 500 companies, Schonberger (World Class Manufacturing) believes that the top manufacturers are resting on their laurels and will soon regret their neglect of the principles of lean production, i.e., getting rid of inventory. GE, GM, Mercedes and Toyota are just a few of the companies that come under his gimlet eye. He proposes a four-step solution involving new product development and acquisition, streamlining production, eliminating manufacturing wastes and, of course, looking at manufacturing possibilities overseas. Regardless of the market's state, companies will need to heed such thoughtful advice in the face of rapid-fire economic changes.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A well-known consultant in production and manufacturing and former professor of management at the University of Nebraska, Schonberger (Japanese Manufacturing Techniques) argues that our biggest manufacturing companies are losing strength. Problems stem from complacency, satisfaction with large inventories, poor job designs, bad equipment, outmoded organizational structures, managers who frequently change jobs, and even stock deals that pleased investors during the boom years of the 1990s. A skilled researcher, Schonberger designed a self-grading questionnaire and sent it to 500 companies (e.g., General Electric, General Motors, Toyota). Their scores led him to conclude that something has to be done to fix the situation. Attention to customers, plant design, better inventory control, and global implications are key areas companies must focus on in order to reverse the downward trend. The book is filled with acronyms and management and production jargon, but it is well-written and contains brief case studies and company anecdotes. An extensive bibliography and appendixes support the writing and research methodology. A good consideration for business school libraries as well as special libraries in many corporations, this book will appeal to executives, managers, supervisors, and students. Steven J. Mayover, Philadelphia

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1st edition (December 4, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743215516
• ISBN-13: 978-0743215510
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #994,898 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's about time, January 22, 2002

By	Patricia E. Moody CMC "Tricia" (Manchester by the Sea, Ma USA) - See all my reviews

Schonberger opened the door to Japanese manufacturing techniques almost twenty years ago. Now, he looks at the primary indicator of mfg. performance - inventories - and proves how our early Just-in-time and Lean improvements gave way to bad practices and inventory growth. Using his data base of several hundred companies, he shows which ones fell down, which ones gained ground, and what needs fixing. An important piece for a confused and painful time in industry.