An illuminating tour through the manufacturing world and its seismic influence on our lives, from internationally renowned expert Tim MinshallWe live in a manufactured world. Unless you are floating naked through space, you are right now in direct contact with multiple manufactured products, including furniture, technology, clothing, and even food. And yet the processes by which these things appear in our lives are virtually invisible. How often do we stop to think: Where do the things we buy actually come from? How are they made, and how do they make their way into our hands?The answers can be found in How Things Are Made, which traces the surprising paths taken by everyday items to reach consumers, from design to creation to delivery. Innovation expert Tim Minshall takes us on a journey through the manufacturing world, from the smallest job shops to mega-factories, from global shipping hubs to local delivery at your door, revealing the inner workings of the system that runs 24-7-365 to make and deliver the things we need—or want—to live our daily lives, including cars, cakes, phones, planes, drugs, and medical devices. Along the way, he explores how we can improve the fragility of our global manufacturing system and the impact it has on the natural world, presenting a path to a truly sustainable future.Brimming with energy and lively examples, How Things Are Made maps the awe-inspiring global system of manufacturing that enables virtually every aspect of our existence. By making sense of this surprising and hidden world, we are able to make better choices for ourselves, our communities, and the planet. Read more

What if one overlooked hazard could cost you everything you’ve built?Most business owners don’t realize they’re one accident away from lost revenue, lawsuits, or even a shutdown—until it’s too late.The truth? One workplace injury can cost over $42,000… and you’re likely not as safe as you think.That’s why Dr. Nicholas Eckert, a national speaker and safety expert with more than 15 years of real-world experience, created The SAFE Framework™—a practical, proven system designed to help business owners reduce risk, prevent injuries, and protect their people without breaking the bank or hiring a safety team.This isn’t another compliance checklist.It’s a high-impact strategy that shows you how to stop reacting after accidents and start preventing them before they happen.What you’ll learn inside:Why most safety programs fail—and how yours can thriveThe mindset shift that saves companies thousands each yearHow to get your team to actually care about safetyA proven method to spot hazards before they become incidentsHow to turn safety into a strategic advantage that boosts productivity and moraleWhether you run a factory, a warehouse, a jobsite, or an office with hidden risks, this guide gives you the tools to take control of safety and move your business forward with confidence.Don't wait until a close call becomes a crisis.Start building a safer, stronger business today with The SAFE Framework™ Read more

Steve Bannon calls Reshore, “One of the most important books of the year, a tour de force of economic history and economic philosophy.”President Trump recently reposted author’s article, “Trump’s Tariffs Will Create Millions of Jobs.”One of the must-read books of 2025.Drive through rural America and you’ll see small town after small town empty and decaying. As you drive past the abandoned manufacturing plants and shuttered Victorian homes once inhabited by its workers and executives, you can picture what the town was like forty years ago. A thriving community where the company president and assembly line worker went to the same church and whose children went to the same school.But what if we could reclaim this America?In Spencer Morrison’s provocative new book, Reshore: How Tariffs Will Bring Our Jobs Home and Revive the American Dream, Morrison argues that the strong manufacturing base that was long the cornerstone of a strong middle class, healthy economy and thriving country can be revived. Its disappearance was a choice – one made by elites who only cared about their bottom dollar - to export our jobs and our wealth abroad.The all-too-predictable result is that Americans are poorer than they have ever been. And the cultural consequences could hardly be more profound. At an alarming rate, Americans are swapping healthy foods for highly processed foods, replacing high quality appliances and household items with imported cheap, low-quality goods and are becoming renters instead of homeowners. Because we are poorer, fewer of us are getting married and having children. In the hopelessness that abounds in rural America, more are turning to drugs.How can this horrific reality be reversed, argues Morrison? Tariffs!Reshore dispels the common misconceptions that free traders, libertarians and too many “conservatives” use to scare the American people about tariffs. It is vital reading for Americans ready to once again put America first and rebuild the America our founders left us. Read more

A Wall Street Journal bestseller The future of the American economy is hiding in an unlikely place: the manufacturing sector While Silicon Valley titans dominate headlines, many of the fastest-growing, most profitable companies in the United States are firms you’ve likely never heard of, such as HEICO, Trex, and Casella. These booming companies belong to a burgeoning sector—industrial tech—that offers surprising hope to workers, consumers, and investors alike.  Their role: to make a range of products—aerospace parts, for example, or recycled plastic lumber—that quietly form the backbone of America’s biggest industries. In an age of instability, industrial tech is a cornerstone of our economic future. In this book, McKinsey veterans Asutosh Padhi, Gaurav Batra, and Nick Santhanam reveal the “titanium economy,” a modern, reinvented industrial sector complete with high-paying, domestic jobs;, soaring stock prices;, and critical infrastructure. They dispel the myth that the best of American manufacturing is behind us and illuminate an opportunity for a brighter future—if we can seize it. Read more

Supply chains are the lifeblood of the global economy, yet they often operate in the shadows, only noticed when they fail. This book is a call to action—a challenge to reimagine supply chains not just as systems of efficiency, but as engines of innovation, resilience, and growth. At the heart of every successful supply chain is one essential truth: it’s all about relationships.Antifragile Supply Chains: Building Resilience Through Better Strategy and Stronger Relationships is a must-read for supply chain leaders navigating today’s rapidly evolving landscape.In the past five years, supply chains have faced more disruption than in the previous four decades combined. From geopolitical upheavals and economic uncertainty to the rise of AI and automation, the industry is transforming at an unprecedented pace. Traditional supply chain resilience strategies are no longer enough. The goal is not just to survive disruption—but to thrive because of it.In this book, veteran supply chain expert Anna McGovern provides a step-by-step roadmap to achieving antifragility—a state where supply chains become stronger under stress. You’ll learn how to:Rethink inventory management to balance agility and efficiencyStrengthen supplier relationships to create a more collaborative, crisis-proof networkLeverage AI and emerging technologies to predict and mitigate disruptionsBuild a strategy that turns volatility into a competitive advantageWhether you're a supply chain executive, operations leader, or procurement professional, this book will transform how you approach supply chain management in an era of continuous disruption.Your supply chain isn’t just a cost center. It’s your greatest strategic asset. Learn how to make it antifragile. Read more

If you want to achieve success in project management, then keep reading... Some projects were always bound to fail. However, that is just a tiny minority. Most projects fail at least partly because of poor project management. If the project manager does not keep the team focused, doesn’t keep control of progress, and doesn’t keep checking that the project is meeting its objectives, projects easily drift. It is like letting a boat sail on without keeping a hand on the tiller—sooner or later, it will drift off course. This book aims to demystify project management and show you two different approaches that have a big following: Agile/Scrum, a very free form methodology that is good for services and software, and Lean Six Sigma, which is more data-driven and particularly useful for high-volume businesses from call centers to manufacturing. In Project Management: An Essential Guide for Beginners Who Want to Understand Agile, Scrum, Lean Six Sigma, Kanban and Kaizen When Applied to Managing Projects, the following topics will be discussed: Project Management: Before You StartAgile and ScrumLean Six SigmaKanban and KaizenAnd many more!So if you want to learn more about project management, scroll up and click the "add to cart" button! Read more

Journey through the complicated economic and environmental history of the steel industry in The Mon. Perfect for fans of the history of American industrialization.Pittsburgh's Monongahela River is named after the Lenape Indian word Menaonkihela, meaning where banks cave and erode. The name is fitting: for over a century, these riverbanks were lined with steel plants and railroads that have now caved and eroded away.By the 1880s, Carnegie Steel was the world's largest manufacturer of iron, steel rails, and coke. However, in the 1970s, cheap foreign steel flooded the market. Following the 1981-1982 recession, the plants laid off 153,000 workers. The year 1985 saw the beginning of demolition; by 1990, seven of nine major steel plants had shut down. Duquesne, Homestead, Jones & Laughlin, and Eliza Furnace are gone; only the Edgar Thomson plant remains as a producer of steel.The industry could be said to have built and nearly destroyed the region both economically and environmentally. While these steel plants are lost today, the legacy of their workers is not forgotten. Read more

A landmark investigation of the chemical industry's decades-long campaign to hide the dangers of forever chemicals, told through the story of a small town on the frontlines of an epic public health crisisIn 2014, after losing several friends and relatives to cancer, an unassuming insurance underwriter in Hoosick Falls, New York, began to suspect that the local water supply was polluted. When he tested his tap water, he discovered dangerous levels of forever chemicals. This set off a chain of events that led to 100 million Americans learning their drinking water was tainted. Although the discovery came as a shock to most, the U.S. government and the manufacturers of these toxic chemicals—used in everything from lipstick and cookware to children’s clothing—had known about their hazards for decades.In They Poisoned the World, investigative journalist Mariah Blake tells the astonishing story of this cover-up, tracing its roots back to the Manhattan Project and through the postwar years, as industry scientists discovered that these chemicals refused to break down and were saturating the blood of virtually every human being. By the 1980s, manufacturers were secretly testing their workers and finding links to birth defects, cancer, and other serious diseases. At every step, the industry’s deceptions were aided by our government’s appallingly lax regulatory system—a system that has made us all guinea pigs in a vast, uncontrolled chemistry experiment.Drawing on years of on-the-ground reporting and tens of thousands of documents, Blake interweaves the secret history of forever chemicals with the moving story of how a lone village took on the chemical giants—and won. From the beloved local doctor to the young mother who took her fight all the way to the nation’s capital, citizen activists in Hoosick Falls and beyond have ignited the most powerful grassroots environmental movement since Silent Spring.Humane and revelatory, this book will provoke outrage—and hopefully inspire the change we need to protect the health of every American for generations to come. Read more

The instant New York Times bestseller about one man's battle to save hundreds of jobs by demonstrating the greatness of American business. The Bassett Furniture Company was once the world's biggest wood furniture manufacturer. Run by the same powerful Virginia family for generations, it was also the center of life in Bassett, Virginia. But beginning in the 1980s, the first waves of Asian competition hit, and ultimately Bassett was forced to send its production overseas. One man fought back: John Bassett III, a shrewd and determined third-generation factory man, now chairman of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Co, which employs more than 700 Virginians and has sales of more than $90 million. In Factory Man, Beth Macy brings to life Bassett's deeply personal furniture and family story, along with a host of characters from an industry that was as cutthroat as it was colorful. As she shows how he uses legal maneuvers, factory efficiencies, and sheer grit and cunning to save hundreds of jobs, she also reveals the truth about modern industry in America. Read more

China’s Secret Strategy: How China's Rise Costs America exposes the hidden tactics fueling China’s rise to global dominance. This compelling analysis unravels the strategies reshaping the world while revealing the steep price America pays. From economic and political maneuvering to technological rivalries, the book delivers a bold and eye-opening examination of the forces defining our future.The book explores China's rise to global superpower status and its profound impact on the United States. It meticulously uncovers China's aggressive economic tactics, environmental and food crises, human rights abuses, and its strategic initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative. It critically examines the technological rivalry of the Chip War and the new Cold War stage as China strengthens its military and forms alliances. This essential book provides a comprehensive and detailed understanding of the actual cost of China's ascent.KEY THEMES & INSIGHTSChina’s Economic HistoryThis book covers the time from the fall of the Qing Dynasty to Deng Xiaoping’s reforms and Xi Jinping’s leadership, highlighting the roots of China’s rapid industrialization and global ambitions and how past economic policies have shaped its current trade, manufacturing, and technology strategies.Trade War: Trade Deficits & Manufacturing ShiftsExamine the trade relations between China and the U.S., highlighting how America's growing trade deficit and the loss of manufacturing jobs to China have affected U.S. industries and employment sectors.The Chip War: A Battle for Technological SovereigntyThe global competition for semiconductor supremacy is reshaping technology, with China's push for control threatening U.S. dominance. In response, the U.S. is implementing export controls and forming strategic partnerships.The New Cold War and Global GeopoliticsThis book examines the implications of China's growing alliance with Russia and its aggressive military expansions, which raise significant concerns for the U.S. and its allies in the context of a new Cold War.Food and Drug SafetyThis book examines China's food safety scandals and the risks of its pharmaceutical imports. It highlights how food safety violations and counterfeit medications affect global health and American consumers, using real-life case studies to reveal how regulatory shortcomings in China put lives at risk.WHY DOES THIS BOOK MATTER?Comprehensive and InsightfulChina's Secret Strategy provides key insights into the historical, political, and economic factors influencing China's rise. It's a must-read for those interested in geopolitics and international trade.Impact on American Jobs and EconomyDiscover how China's economic strategies, such as currency manipulation and trade imbalances, have caused job losses for American workers and disrupted key industries. China's Secret Strategy provides insights into their impact on the global economy.Informed by ExpertsAuthored by Arthur Deperis, a scholar specializing in global economics and international relations, this book leverages decades of research and analysis to offer a clear and concise overview of China's strategies.Ideal for Readers Who Are Interested in:Geopolitics & International RelationsGlobal Trade & Economic StrategyTechnology and InnovationMilitary and Security StudiesChina’s Political and Economic HistoryHealth & Food Products Sourced from ChinaHuman Rights & Global JusticeCONCLUSIONAn eye-opening examination of China's rise and its consequences on the global stage.Essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the geopolitical and economic challenges we face with China today. Read more

The 'Industrial Revolution' was a pivotal point in British history that occurred between the mid-eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries and led to far reaching transformations of society. With the advent of revolutionary manufacturing technology productivity boomed. Machines were used to spin and weave cloth, steam engines were used to provide reliable power, and industry was fed by the construction of the first railways, a great network of arteries feeding the factories. Cities grew as people shifted from agriculture to industry and commerce. Hand in hand with the growth of cities came rising levels of pollution and disease. Many people lost their jobs to the new machinery, whilst working conditions in the factories were grim and pay was low. As the middle classes prospered, social unrest ran through the working classes, and the exploitation of workers led to the growth of trade unions and protest movements.In this Very Short Introduction, Robert C. Allen analyzes the key features of the Industrial Revolution in Britain, and the spread of industrialization to other countries. He considers the factors that combined to enable industrialization at this time, including Britain's position as a global commercial empire, and discusses the changes in technology and business organization, and their impact on different social classes and groups. Introducing the 'winners' and the 'losers' of the Industrial Revolution, he looks at how the changes were reflected in evolving government policies, and what contribution these made to the economic transformation. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. Read more

Winner of a 2009 Shingo Research and Professional Publication Prize. Notably flexible and brief, the A3 report has proven to be a key tool In Toyota‘s successful move toward organizational efficiency, effectiveness, and improvement, especially within its engineering and R&D organizations. The power of the A3 report, however, derives not from th Read more

"- the intellectual architect of Trump's proposed External Revenue Service-" - The Epoch Times"- pro-tariff author John Gardner developed the idea of the "external revenue service-" - The Wall Street Journal From the days of the American Revolution until now, manufacturing has been the backbone of the American economy. It is what made our country a great power, and it is the traditional path to the middle class. But in recent decades, manufacturing has come under fire. US politicians and economists have pushed damaging free-trade policies on an uncomprehending public, while adversarial countries such as China have taken advantage of that foolishness. Manufacturing is the goose that lays our golden eggs—and it must be protected, or it will be lost.In Manufacture Local, John Gardner details the positive policy steps that American political leaders should champion to reinvigorate America’s core industry. He examines manufacturing’s importance to national security, to America’s sense of self-sufficiency, and to the flourishing of its great cities. He scrutinizes free trade as it is commonly understood and proposes steps to take toward a production-based economy in which tariffs protect and encourage American greatness. And drawing on his nearly two decades of experience working with manufacturers, Gardner proposes workable solutions to make up for America’s crisis of skilled labor.Manufacturing is often denigrated as low work for uneducated people, yet nothing could be further from the truth. It’s time America gives the industry its proper respect, but the only way that will happen is if it speaks up for itself. Gardner does just that; he raises a voice of hope for every American to hear. By sharing lessons from his own life—and telling the untold story of American manufacturing—he emphasizes the importance of manufacturing, not just to the American economy but also to our entire way of life.Manufacture Local presents a formula for success. The Founders overcame Great Britain to make our country a manufacturing powerhouse. Today, we can take inspiration from them. It’s time to make America the manufacturing superpower of the world again. Read more

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★ PROJECT MANAGEMENT ★ -BOXSET-THE COMPLETE GUIDE THAT WILL MAXIMIZE YOUR BUSINESS!!◆ How are winning companies born, grow, and innovate?◆ How do they optimize their workflow in terms of costs, resources, and profits?◆ Why are Lean and Agile methods the most used by successful startups and companies?If you want to build a successful lean business obtaining maximum business efficiency this comprehensive guide is your best choice!Includes:★ LEAN STARTUP ★ LEAN ENTERPRISE ★ LEAN SIX SIGMA ★ AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT★ SCRUM★ KANBANThanks to these systems, you will learn the correct planning and management of processes, ensuring a rapid increase in production capacity, instantly eliminating waste and costs.Plus, with a Kaizen mindset, it will be easier to scale your personal and business goals!This book covers:Why do most startups fail?Fixing problems quicklyLean Analytics to monitor and optimize dataWhat are 5S, and how they work?Benefits of Lean ThinkingThe 5 phases of DMAICHow to accelerate your business with ScrumHow a Sprint could make your life easierKanban for Lean ManufacturingAdd value and quality to the productsThe 10 Kaizen principles...AND MUCH MORE!★★ Now that I have your attention:If you want to start or restart your business, this PROJECT MANAGEMENT collection is what you need!Get your copy now to become an expert! Read more

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Process industries have a particularly urgent need for collaborative equipment management systems, but until now have lacked for programs directed toward their specific needs. TPM in Process lndustries brings together top consultants from the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance to modify the original TPM Development Program. In this volume, they demonstrate how to analyze process environments and equipment issues including process loss structure and calculation, autonomous maintenance, equipment and process improvement, and quality maintenance. For all organizations managing large equipment, facing low operator/machine ratios, or implementing extensive improvement, this text is an invaluable resource. Read more

In the 1950’s, the design and implementation of the Toyota Production System (TPS) within Toyota had begun. In the 1960’s, Group Technology (GT) and Cellular Manufacturing (CM) were used by Serck Audco Valves, a high-mix low-volume (HMLV) manufacturer in the United Kingdom, to guide enterprise-wide transformation. In 1996, the publication of the book Lean Thinking introduced the entire world to Lean. Job Shop Lean integrates Lean with GT and CM by using the five Principles of Lean to guide its implementation: (1) identify value, (2) map the value stream, (3) create flow, (4) establish pull, and (5) seek perfection. Unfortunately, the tools typically used to implement the Principles of Lean are incapable of solving the three Industrial Engineering problems that HMLV manufacturers face when implementing Lean: (1) finding the product families in a product mix with hundreds of different products, (2) designing a flexible factory layout that "fits" hundreds of different product routings, and (3) scheduling a multi-product multi-machine production system subject to finite capacity constraints.Based on the Author’s 20+ years of learning, teaching, researching, and implementing Job Shop Lean since 1999, this bookDescribes the concepts, tools, software, implementation methodology, and barriers to successful implementation of Lean in HMLV production systemsUtilizes Production Flow Analysis instead of Value Stream Mapping to eliminate waste in different levels of any HMLV manufacturing enterpriseSolves the three Industrial Engineering problems that were mentioned earlier using software like PFAST (Production Flow Analysis and Simplification Toolkit), Sgetti and SchedlyzerExplains how the one-at-a-time implementation of manufacturing cells constitutes a long-term strategy for Continuous ImprovementExplains how product families and manufacturing cells are the basis for implementing flexible automation, machine monitoring, virtual cells, Manufacturing Execution Systems, and other elements of Industry 4.0Teaches a new method, Value Network Mapping, to visualize large multi-product multi-machine production systems whose Value Streams share many processesIncludes real success stories of Job Shop Lean implementation in a variety of production systems such as a forge shop, a machine shop, a fabrication facility and a shipping departmentEncourages any HMLV manufacturer planning to implement Job Shop Lean to leverage the co-curricular and extracurricular programs of an Industrial Engineering department Read more

Planned maintenance, commonly known as PM, has evolved as a vital component of modern asset management strategies. It plays a critical role in various industries, ranging from manufacturing to healthcare. This essay explores the concept of planned maintenance, its historical context, the significant impact it has had on various sectors, influential figures in the field, and emerging trends that may shape its future. At its core, planned maintenance involves scheduling maintenance activities in a systematic way to mitigate the likelihood of unexpected equipment failures. This proactive approach contrasts with reactive maintenance, where equipment is only serviced once a failure has occurred. The primary objective of planned maintenance is to maximize equipment reliability while minimizing downtime and maintenance costs. Historically, the principles of planned maintenance can be traced back to the early industrial era when organizations began recognizing the financial impact of equipment failures. Initial methods relied heavily on trial and error to establish maintenance schedules. Over time, with advances in engineering and technology, more sophisticated approaches emerged. The introduction of methods such as Total Productive Maintenance and Reliability-Centered Maintenance has further refined the strategies surrounding planned maintenance. These methodologies emphasize the importance of understanding the specific operational context of equipment to effectively manage maintenance tasks. The impact of planned maintenance on various industries has been profound. In the manufacturing sector, for instance, the implementation of PM strategies has led to increased operational efficiency. Downtime that once significantly hampered production rates has been reduced. Companies utilizing PM schedules often report higher levels of productivity as well as extended equipment life. In the healthcare sector, PM plays a crucial role in ensuring that medical equipment operates effectively, which is critical for patient safety and service quality. Hospitals that employ proactive maintenance schedules tend to experience fewer equipment failures, leading to enhanced patient care and satisfaction. Influential figures have made significant contributions to the development and refinement of planned maintenance practices. One such individual is Dr. Andrew K. S. Lee, who has extensively researched the relationship between maintenance strategies and operational reliability. His work emphasizes the importance of data-driven decision-making in establishing maintenance schedules. Another notable contributor is Thomas Pyzdek, recognized for his advancements in quality management, which include essential insights into the maintenance process. His writings advocate for integrating quality principles into maintenance strategies, highlighting the synergy between quality assurance and PM. There are various perspectives regarding planned maintenance. Supporters argue that it generates substantial long-term savings by preventing costly breakdowns. Critics, however, suggest that planned maintenance can sometimes lead to unnecessary maintenance tasks, resulting in wasted resources and time if not appropriately managed. Therefore, a balanced approach that uses data analytics to assess maintenance needs can help optimize PM strategies. In recent years, the integration of technology into planned maintenance has transformed its execution and efficiency. The adoption of predictive maintenance techniques, powered by the Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning, has revolutionized maintenance strategies. These technologies allow for real-time monitoring and analysis of equipment performance, enabling organizations to schedule maintenance activities based on precise data rather than arbitrary time intervals. This predictive approach minimizes unnecessary maintenance actions. Read more

“A fascinating study of the centrality of militarism in 18th-century British life, and how imperial expansion and arms went hand in hand . . . a triumph.” —The Guardian  Named One of the Best Books of 2018 by the San Francisco Chronicle and Smithsonian Magazine   From the seventeenth to the nineteenth century, the industrial revolution transformed Britain from an agricultural and artisanal economy to one dominated by industry, ushering in unprecedented growth in technology and trade and putting the country at the center of the global economy. But the commonly accepted story of the industrial revolution, anchored in images of cotton factories and steam engines invented by unfettered geniuses, overlooks the true root of economic and industrial expansion: the lucrative military contracting that enabled the country’s near-constant state of war in the eighteenth century.    Bookended by the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, this book traces the social and material life of British guns over a century of near-constant war and violence at home and abroad. Priya Satia develops this story through the life of prominent British gunmaker and Quaker Samuel Galton Jr., who was asked to answer for the moral defensibility of producing guns as new uses like anonymous mass violence rose. Reconciling the pacifist tenet of his faith with his perception of the economic realities of the time, Galton argued that war was driving the industrial economy, making everyone inescapably complicit in it. Through his story, Satia illuminates Britain’s emergence as a global superpower, the roots of the government’s role in economic development, and the origins of our own era’s debates over gun control and military contracting. Read more