Rating: 
Summary: This book reveals some of the potential of WCM techniques.
Review: Although the title suggests a 'how to' approach to WCM, this 'how NOT to' is a fast read which opens the door (and possibly minds) to the prospect that mass and batch production methods have inherent flaws. This work is well written and progresses quickly into an interesting scenario anyone working in manufacturing can identify with. Contemporary relationships between departments, workers, and managers are clearly articulated and are accurately described. Management, production control and material management functions are described in great detail, and reflect current operating practices in many organizations, both large and small. The story is told from the perspective of a Manufacturing Engineer (Sandy) from the fictional Garrett Gear Company, and chronicles efforts to build a set of garage shelves using traditional batch manufacturing techniques. The work team is comprised of volunteers from Garrett Gear and others recruited by 'Joe' (VP of Manufacturing at Garrett). This is also the story of how Sandy is introduced to WCM techniques, aided by his neighbor and counterpart, Ralph Morita of Yamachi Gear (a competitor to Garrett). This book will have a varying value to readers, depending on their background and position in their organization. There is nothing to be gained by senior or middle management, while first line supervisors may be able to decipher the "how NOT to's" and translate them into "how to's". Both supervisors and shop floor workers can benefit by relating to situations presented and recognizing wastes introduced BY the manufacturing process. While the book is quick to point out flaws in current mass/batch production techniques, it comes up short in terms of solid solutions that can be implemented by supervisors or workers. The work contains several logical flaws, including comparing the industrial manufacturing environment to a home project, which may be akin to comparing capital costing in terms of a household budget. Others include stabs at unions, traditional production measurements, quality personnel, specific management structures, etc... The book espouses several 'lean production' techniques, which will be useful to any reader. It contains many simple and easy-to-remember phrases that can be used as idea 'seeds' on the shop floor. The glossary is an EXCELLENT reference which I recommend highly. In short, I recommend the book for shop floor personnel and first line leaders, but not for the purpose for which it was intended. I recommend the book as part of the cultural change process, which is a precursor to (or perhaps parallels) any WCM/Lean Manufacturing effort. This book will open minds to possibilities that may not have been previously explored in traditionally structured organizations, and may be used best in conjunction with The Day I Learned About Quality in Joe's Garage: High Quality Made Simple, and Manufacturing Beyond Joe's Garage: Value Based Manufacturing (both works by Wm. B. Miller, not yet available).
Rating: 
Summary: Best business book I have read
Review: I recently have used this book as part of the "lean production" implementation in our company. (We are a supplier of steel and other metal products to many industries, including automotive and aerospace.) The book was very helpful in clearly describing how to do things like eliminate errors, reduce inventory, and reduce cycle time. It is easy to see how this book has been recommended by so many top people like Bob Lutz and the Boeing Company. It is a great way to learn how to do things better. The business world - and our industry - is becoming more competitive every day, and we have really appreciated a tool like this book to help us improve.
Rating:
Summary: Best business book I have read
Review: I recently have used this book as part of the "lean production" implementation in our company. (We are a supplier of steel and other metal products to many industries, including automotive and aerospace.) The book was very helpful in clearly describing how to do things like eliminate errors, reduce inventory, and reduce cycle time. It is easy to see how this book has been recommended by so many top people like Bob Lutz and the Boeing Company. It is a great way to learn how to do things better. The business world - and our industry - is becoming more competitive every day, and we have really appreciated a tool like this book to help us improve.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for everyone!
Review: I work for a medical products company. We purchased Joe's Garage on the basis of the endorsements from Mr. Robert Lutz (Chrysler, GM) and MANY other business executives in MANY industries. We have not been disappointed, and I cannot say enough good about this book! It has educated everybody from our company President to assembly technicians. If you want to know how to build high quality products quickly at low cost, you must read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Great book for everyone!
Review: I work for a medical products company. We purchased Joe's Garage on the basis of the endorsements from Mr. Robert Lutz (Chrysler, GM) and MANY other business executives in MANY industries. We have not been disappointed, and I cannot say enough good about this book! It has educated everybody from our company President to assembly technicians. If you want to know how to build high quality products quickly at low cost, you must read this book!
Rating: 
Summary: Not sure how to take this one........
Review: OK, this book was mandatory reading for our department. It was supposed to enlighten us into the world of lean manufacturing. Instead, it simply painted a distorted picture of one manufacturing philosophy and how it was better than another. The stage was set early when the character "Joe" was made out to be a difficult boss, someone not sophisticated and rough. This slanted the reading from comparing processes to comparing personalities. In addition, assumptions were made that employees in Ralph's company had the ability to improve their manufacturing processes on the fly (page 18). Supposedly this was a good thing, but it never referenced how to go about doing this and fitting into an ISO environment or how much paperwork that would have involved. In any event this book should not be taken very seriously. It is a story with little substance that raises two significant points. The first is if George Washington screamed when Joe squeezed a nickel....what happened to Thomas Jefferson must have been really bad.(Page 14) And if Joe actually got 20 people to show up to his house on a Saturday to help him build shelves in his garage....shouldn't he really be in sales?
Rating:
Summary: Not sure how to take this one........
Review: OK, this book was mandatory reading for our department. It was supposed to enlighten us into the world of lean manufacturing. Instead, it simply painted a distorted picture of one manufacturing philosophy and how it was better than another. The stage was set early when the character "Joe" was made out to be a difficult boss, someone not sophisticated and rough. This slanted the reading from comparing processes to comparing personalities. In addition, assumptions were made that employees in Ralph's company had the ability to improve their manufacturing processes on the fly (page 18). Supposedly this was a good thing, but it never referenced how to go about doing this and fitting into an ISO environment or how much paperwork that would have involved. In any event this book should not be taken very seriously. It is a story with little substance that raises two significant points. The first is if George Washington screamed when Joe squeezed a nickel....what happened to Thomas Jefferson must have been really bad.(Page 14) And if Joe actually got 20 people to show up to his house on a Saturday to help him build shelves in his garage....shouldn't he really be in sales?
Rating: 
Summary: or--A Beginner's Guide to World Class Manufacturing
Review: Simple and fun to read, but full of real ideas. The author gets away from the "janglish" of poka-yoke, TPS, kanban, and lays it all out in plain English through a fictional account of building shelves in Joe's garage. Joe is kind of a...boss, who "volunteers" his workers to build shelves in his garage over a weekend. Each fundamental of modern lean manufacturing is covered through the trials and tribulations of the people trying to get the project done. A good book to distribute to supervisors and shop floor leaders.
Rating:
Summary: an essential component of management education
Review: The electronics industry requires rapid product development, quick turnaround on orders, low inventory and manufacturing costs, and high quality to satisfy customers in the face of cut-throat competition. This book has become our standard tool for building united enthusiatic teams at our company. It is easy to understand, and it conveys all the important strategies and tactics of world class manufacturing. As the president of Dolby says, it is must reading for anybody manufacturing anything. It has made the difference in our company's success, and for the motivation and financial rewards for our employees.
Rating:
Summary: Almost there
Review: This book had the potential to be a great instructive book. Its main problem is that it stopped short of attaining this goal. Coming as it does on the verge of the third decade of America's realization that the American Production System is not the ultimate manufacturing system it highlighted manufacturing problems, but not their solutions. The idea behind the book was excellent. Building a neighborhood project within a close neighborhood highlighted problems with the common American Mfg. system. It allowed one to easily attain the concept and the Japanese catch-word that defines the solution. If you want a book that will help you relate catch-words this is it. If you are interested in a solution, search elsewhere. It needs a little further development on the reverse side of the coin. Such as the following week the group should have had a project at Ralph's or Sato's garage and with the same style demonstrate how the project should have been handled. I did not like this book because it is only one side of the story. It offers nothing on the problem solving or "How to" side of manufacturing.
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