Quick die change is a complex process that is vital to the modern press shop and essential for maintaining product uniformity, quality and profitability. This book, written by industry press and die expert, David Smith, is filled with engineering know-how, sound management principles, and the history and theory behind quick die change. The book is an excellent reference tool for advanced die setters, engineering managers, production managers, manufacturing engineers, and anyone interested in improving die setting and changing operations.

Reflecting hands-on experience of materials, equipment, tooling and processes used in the industry, this work provides up-to-date information on flat-rolled sheet metal products. It addresses the processing and forming of light-to-medium-gauge flat-rolled sheet metal, illustrating the versatility and myriad uses of this material.

Hundreds of examples and guidelines detail how to improve your current die designs, or utilize new progressive designs that maximize efficiency while minimizing cost. Examples of the topics covered in the book's nineteen chapters include: punches and dies, stock guides and pilots, strippers, press selection, binding, blank development, design of strips and stampings, carbide dies, die material selection, design practices, EDM, mathematics and angle calculations, lubrication, sensors and die protection, and more.

Engineered in Japan presents a unique and comprehensive examination of technology management in the most successful Japanese companies: unique in that all chapters go beyond superficial descriptions of stylized practices to look in depth at particular issues, often contradicting or qualifying the conventional wisdom; comprehensive in that it covers the entire technology life cycle from basic R&D, to development engineering, to manufacturing processes, to learning from the Japanese. Each chapter is based on original research by noted scholars in the field, and identifies technology management practices that have become a major source of competitive advantage for highly successful Japanese companies. Engineered in Japan documents the best practices from such companies as Toyota, Hitachi, Toshiba, and Nippondenso, and discusses how these technology management practices can be usefully adopted in other cultural contexts. Going beyond past observations, the authors all delve below the surface of Japanese management approaches. They look more closely than has been done before at how particular methods are applied, and they identify some new practices that have not yet been highlighted in books on Japanese methods. Presenting recent data that contradict some conventional thinking about U.S.-Japanese differences, they look at old techniques from a new perspective. "U.S. managers can perhaps learn more from the process of creation in Japan and the organizational structures that support innovation," say the editors in their introduction, "than from the particular approaches, tools, and technologies created." A running theme throughout the book is that Japanese managers and engineers tend to think in terms of systems, focusing not just on the parts but on the connections between them. Engineered in Japan is must reading for technology managers and engineers, along with anyone interested in Japanese business, engineering, and management.

Before you spend any money on physical prototypes, learn how a systems engineering can help you bring new products to market faster and at less cost! The Virtual Engineer explains how a company can incorporate advanced processes into their existing systems, integrating the product development, manufacturing, marketing and costing functions. Howard Crabb, the pioneer of the visual engineering concept, draws on his 30 years of experience as a manager of Technical Computing at Ford Motor Company. There he integrated solids modeling with traditional CAD to produce a solid representation of a design, opening up the potential for leapfrogging the competition. He explains in clear and effective language: Steps required to reinvent the current new product development process, How change benefits the organization, in terms of reduced cycle time, reduced engineering changes, reduced number of physical prototypes and improved product quality, Developments in the semiconductor industry and their impact on the desktop computing environment, and Best practices of existing firms

This review describes the changes in the industry over the last 5 years, concentrating on the screw extrusion process where the extruded product has a constant cross-section. Film and sheet production and pultrusion are not included in this review. Products and applications are reviewed in detail and major advances such as computer control, materials and speed and size issues are also covered. An additional indexed section containing several hundred abstracts from the Rapra Polymer Library database provides useful references for further reading.

A key manufacturing issue is speed strategy how to bring new products to market faster while maintaining quality and cost effectiveness. Time to Market: Reducing Product Lead Time is a book that managers at all levels will want to read. It will inform you of the importance of speed to your organization, share examples of how leading companies improved their customer responsiveness and brought new products to market faster, and provide evaluation tools you can use to implement key techniques within your own organization.

Part of the renowned TMEH Series, the book contains hundreds of practical new ways to make continuous improvement work, and keep on working: quality management guidelines, quality and productivity improvement ideas, cost reduction tips, continuous process improvement, plus how to use world class techniques such as TPM, TQM, benchmarking, JIT, activity-based costing, improving customer/supplier relationships, and more. You'll also learn from "best practices" examples for quality training, teamwork, empowerment, self-assessment using Baldrige Quality Award criteria, ISO 9000 audits and certification, and more.

An invaluable resource, The Metal Stamping Process was written by an expert with over 30 years of practical experience, and it has been used for years as the core reference for what is widely regarded as the premier training program in this industry. With this book you will have immediate access to metalworking formulas, design standards, set up techniques, guidelines for designing and tolerancing parts, material choices, EDM, coatings, lubricants, problems and root causes, tooling tips, machine maintenance and mil standards. Also included is ProQuote, a complete and simple-to-use Excel program for cost estimating. It will help ensure that your calculations are correct and save you time besides. Features The only book in the field to explain the business side of the industry, including "buy/make" decisions. Explains how to do the same operation several different ways, as well as the pros and cons of each way. Provides tooling tips only an insider knows. Focuses on failure avoidance. Contains illustrations that depict actual parts and case studies.

Toyota's world-renowned success proves that just-in-time (JIT) makes other manufacturing practices obsolete. This simple but powerful book is based on the seminars given by Taiichi Ohno and other senior production staff to introduce Toyota's own supplier companies to JIT. It teaches the philosophy and implementation of what many call the most efficient production system in the world. Provides a clear structure for an introductory JIT training program. Explains every aspect of the JIT system, including how to set it up and how to refine it once it's in place. Shows how to use a simple visual system to control the production process. Every day more American companies are learning that JIT works outside Japan. Now you can get started with this step-by-step book which guides you through the implementation process. Every engineer, manager, supervisor, and worker should read this book to get the clearest, simplest, and most complete introduction to JIT available in English. Results at American companies after reading this book: Lead-time on one product was reduced from 12 weeks to 4 days. Setup time on a large blanking press was reduced from eight hours to one minute and four seconds. Work-in-process has been reduced 50 percent plant-wide. Factory floor space was opened up 30 to 40 percent in every on of their plants.