Manufacturing is the cornerstone of international commerce. Students in
engineering programs must learn how manufacturing and the business
enterprise work, from an integrated systems approach. This book bridges
the traditional gap between manufacturing and business. Manufacturing
provides the foundation for a sustainable industrialization. Manufacturing
refers to the activities and processes geared toward the production of consumer products. Industrialization refers to the broad collection of activities, services, resources, and infrastructure needed to support business
and industry. A nation that cannot institute and sustain manufacturing
will be politically delinquent and economically retarded in the long run.
A good industrial foundation can positively drive the political and economic processes in any nation. This foundation must start in an academic setting. This textbook contributes to building the desired foundation.
Topics covered include engineering processes, systems modeling, business enterprise, forecasting, inventory management, product design, and project management.