Best books to learn about manufacturing

Best books to learn about manufacturing(booksmartest.com)

131 points by danmendes 6 years ago | 14 comments

Robelius 6 years ago |

A topic I can comment on!

I got my degree in Manufacturing Engineering, and work in hardware engineering. Funnily enough, I’m writing this on a shuttle that left the factory today on my way to the hotel.

The go to for my undergrad was Fundamentals of Modern Manufacturing [1]. It gives a surface level understanding and isn’t too dry most of the time. It’s an interesting book that you can just open up and learn something new in. It’s more of a reference book than the “narrative” books that were linked too. It’s probably what people think of as a “Manufacturing Book.”

Then there’s the Bible, Machinery’s Handbook [2]. This probably isn’t what most people are looking for in a manufacturing book. Think of it as more of a giant list of tables and suggestions when trying to actually build something. It’s the one book I’ll always have at my desk, regardless of what I’m working on.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Modern-Manufacturing-Mat...

[2] https://www.amazon.com/Machinerys-Handbook-Toolbox-Erik-Ober...

On mobile, so fingers crossed on the formatting!

froindt 6 years ago | |

You're the 2nd other IE/manufacturing engineer I've found on the site!

I can second the recommendation for Fundamental Modern Manufacturing. This was required reading for my two hands-on manufacturing classes. They have so many manufacturing processes I hadn't heard of, and very good descriptions of them.

eitally 6 years ago | | |

I am one, too, with specialization in high tech electronics manufacturing processes and control systems. To be honest, it's relatively straightforward to understand how manufacturing works... If you have access to a factory. The two areas that I find the most interesting are Operations Research (essentially, solving optimization problems) and Supply Chain Management, which seems like it'd mostly be OR, too, but in reality ends up being much more about how well you understand laws and regulations and can bend them to your will.

Hnrobert42 6 years ago | | |

There are dozens of us. Dozens!

thecleaner 6 years ago | |

Hey awesome suggestions. Lets say I want to put some of this knowledge to work and get into the contract manufacturing businesss. How hard or impossible is it in the current climate or in general ?

tumba 6 years ago |

Some of these aren’t bad. The Goal, for example, is a great book for helping you build intuition about constraints. But by far, the best manufacturing book I’ve read is Factory Physics, but Hopp and Spearman. It rewards study with a mathematical understanding of how value chains work.

https://factoryphysics.com/factory-physics-3rd-edition

xinyhn 6 years ago |

Does anyone have any suggestions on starting a career in manufacturing/quality, etc. Not exactly sure which direction I want to go but I want to explore careers that involve lean principles and Six Sigma. Currently just have an associates. Should I start entry level somewhere? Go back to school for Industrial Engineering?

masonic 6 years ago |

All links are Amazon affiliate links (tag canoneo-20).

redis_mlc 6 years ago | |

So ... what is your point exactly?

You object to somebody, somewhere on the Internet creating content and making a buck? Or just that you didn't get your shekel?

gregjotau 6 years ago | | |

I think his point is that if someone recommends something to others, the more money they earn for recommending it is proportional to how much that person would be willing to mislead potential buyers / not be totally honest / be biased.

DrScump 6 years ago | | |

It looks like a polite reminder that this use violates Amazon's affiliate program rules, with the logical next step being revocation by Amazon.

thatguy27 6 years ago | | |

"content"

bigtrakzapzap 6 years ago |

TWW is a great book.

Another book on the TPS: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0915299143

I would look beyond books to seek out great organizers, leaders, and organizations in manufacturing. Dell is another good example. There are many others spread around the world.