The Manufacturers' Survival Guide: New Directions for the 1990s (Financial Times)

Long regarded as the sole domain of industry specialists, the manufacturing function is now a chief concern to all of an organization's decision makers and business partners - from its general managers and executives to its suppliers and investors. It is in the manufacturing function where overall improvements in quality, productivity, customer satisfaction, and competitiveness can be fully realized - and where the organization's ability to survive is measured.The Manufacturer's Survival Guide is one of the few books that makes manufacturing understandable to the nonspecialist. This no-frills guide reveals the strategic issues and global challenges surrounding today's manufacturing environment so you know which questions to ask and what cautions to take when planning, implementing, or measuring your organization's current or future strategic efforts.The book's international perspective helps you understand the new challenges and opportunities created by the emergence of a single European market, as well as approaches other nations are using to support and enhance their manufacturing enterprises.Whether you contribute to shaping your organization's policy, or just want to gain a firm understanding of manufacturing, The Manufacturers' Survival Guide helps you answer the questions: What is the next objective for strategic manufacturing once quality is no longer considered a competitive advantage? Why do some companies have successful, long-lasting manufacturing improvement programs while others seem to lose their effect over time? What are the latest global competitive trends for achieving customer satisfaction, cross-functional integration, quality improvement, cost efficiency, and flexibility?Manufacturing is no longer strictly defined by smokestacks, factories, and product production. It is the strategic link between an organization's current improvement efforts and its future competitive position. With the information and practical guidance inside The Manufacturers' Survival Guide, you can broaden your strategic vision and help your organization not only survive, but also prosper in the years ahead.