The Consumer's Workshop: The Future of American Manufacturing

In Part I “Learning from the Past” we explore the history of American Manufacturing. We are on a trajectory toward the future. We intend to show that trajectory by a short review of our recent past. In Chapter 1, titled “The History of American Manufacturing– Where it All Came From” we examine the impact of the First Industrial Revolution (from Manpower to Steam Power) and the Second Industrial Revolutions (of Modern Day Manufacturing Methods) on American Manufacturing. In Chapter 2, which is called “The Information Revolution in Manufacturing”, we examine the impact of the Third Industrial Revolution that started after the 1940s and is still in process. In this chapter we explore the shift in manufacturing from Individuals to System Thinking, the growth of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies and the emergence of MRPII/ERP systems. In Part Two, which is called “Efficient and Profitable Customization”, we take a look ahead to the future. We show how American manufacturing is only midway through these current trends and how these trends foreshadow the remaining topics in this book: systems thinking, the engineering pyramid, product configuration, configuration engineering and mass customization. In Chapter 3, called “It’s Not about the Computer, it’s about Systems Thinking”, we explore how recent advances in Systems Thinking have helped to lower development costs. In Chapter 4, called “The Engineering Pyramid”, we introduce readers to our Engineering Pyramid paradigm and a top down approach that can be utilized to increase the speed of innovation and dramatically lower engineering costs. In Chapter 5, called “Systemization and Standardization – They are Not the Same” we explore the current challenges of designing and building customized products and our methodology for top down systemization and standardization to increase the speed of innovation and dramatically lower engineering costs. In Chapter 6, called “Mass Customization”, we demonstrate the importance of mass customization for the future of American manufacturing and describe how current leaders have made mass customization profitable in their businesses. In Part Three, called “The Human Component – It’s Still All About the People”, we look at the continuing importance and the necessity of people systems in the manufacturing process. In Chapter 7, called “Employee On Boarding” we provide an approach to bringing people into the organization. In Chapter 8, called “High Performance Team-Based Work Systems “, we tell you how to maximize throughput, profit and career rewards through an empowered team based work system.. In Chapter 9, called “Technology Transfer and Training”, we explore how employees can learn the necessary skills for working in a highly efficient manufacturing environment. The last section, Part Four, is entitled, “Putting it All Together”. Here, in Chapter 10, called “Taking Your Company There” we tell you who will be the winners and losers of this natural extension of American manufacturers. Also, we tell you how you will know if it’s too late for your company. Sorry…some of you readers won’t be happy.