1 comments about Visualization, Modeling, And Graphics For Engineering Design.

1. D.K. Lieu really knows his stuff. I have the preliminary edition released around two years ago. This updated version should have some stuff on descriptive geometry and 'cut-and-fill': two of the topics I struggled most with when I took the course which used this book. Overall, there are tons of graphics, pictures, and other visual aids in this book in addition to lucid writing. This book is my bible when it comes to engineering convention.

No comments about Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Therapeutic Aspects of Biomacromolecules.

5 comments about Mastering Digital Black and White: A Photographer's Guide to High Quality Black-and-White Imaging and Printing (Digital Process and Print).

1. Very good overview and very timely. The samples of solutions available in the marletplace are up to date for 2007.



2. Extremely useful for any serious photographer interested in printing in high quality black and white.



3. Good photography transcends whether the image was captured in full color or black-and-white, and Amadou Diallo recognizes that fact in presenting this excellent guidebook for imaging in monochrome. Virtually everything in this book has applications in color photography as well, whether it's the description of proper calibration to the invaluable tips on tonality. If you aspire to be a better photographer, this book is a good place to start. You'll find that after you've mastered black-and-white image capture and output, you'll be well on the road to mastery of all aspects of good photography. Recommended.



4. Very good book but extremely technical. Not a quick read but is chock-full of useful and practical information. Recommend it as a good addition to your personal reference library.



5. This book does live up to its title in my opinion. The illustrations are very well organized with the text, moving from simple to more complex.
   
   All digital imaging technologies become altered by sucessive innovations, but this kind of text lays down a foundation for you to proceed into the future. Amadou doesn't give detailed workflows for every ink, media, and printer out there for the simple reason that the rate in which ALL of these inksets, rips, and printers are changing would made such an endeavor impossible, and certainly out of date by the time of publishing. That is the fault of our era not the fault of the author.
   
   I agree with the other poster who stated that Amadou's book is equally useful for many color imaging concepts. In a way it is the foundation for them. For someone venturing into this territory for the first time it lets you know who the players are in monochrome inkjet imaging, and where the technology has been in the recent past, and where the information will be available in the future.
   
   John

1 comments about Polymer Science and Technology (2nd Edition).

1. This textbook provides a good introduction to polymers, their processing, applications, and properties. The book assumes minimal prior knowledge of polymers, and begins with a simple intro to properties such as glass transition temperature, molecular weight, thermoplastic versus thermoset.
   
   Electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties of polymers are discussed and related to the structure and composition of the material.
   
   The book is organized very well. It includes dedicated chapters on synthesis, processing, degradation, and for the different classes of polymers. Each chapter is short and can stand alone by itself. A short list of references is also provided at the end of each chapter, and these are organized according to the different sections in each chapter.
   
   The level of the text is appropriate for juniors or seniors in engineering or chemistry. The math is kept at a simple level; nothing harder than integral calculus, and there are a lot of pictures and diagrams. The amount and scope of information also warrants purchasing this as a general reference for polymers.
   
   I recommend this book for those who are learning about, or teaching about polymers.

3 comments about Warehouse Distribution and Operations Handbook (McGraw-Hill Handbooks).

1. This is the best book I've ever found on material handling and warehouse storage. Though a little pricey, this book has content that makes it well worth the cost. Extensive detail on material handling and storage equipment. Also has separate chapters dedicated to small item warehouses, case-pick warehouses, and pallet warehouses.
   Anyone designing a new warehouse or redesigning an existing one should read this book.



2. This book is a must for ANY professional working in the finished-goods/products Fulfillment/Distribution world. If your work and responsibilities span anywhere within a FC/DC, you should pick up this book. For less than one hundred bucks, you get one of the best written, concise handbooks I have ever encountered.
   
   It's very important to note that this is not just a dictionary-like handbook, but rather a book that is actually easily readble and enjoyable. It is not for novices, but for anyone with some level of experience, the book comes to life and will help you build depth.
   
   I work for a major e-retailer that disbributes products to end customers. Having worked many years here and picking up most of the know-how from experience alone, I am now questioning why our learning dept doesn't have the insight to make this book a "required" manual for all when we first started. It is excellent and provides great explanations and applications .
   
   Buy it. If I ran a DC/FC, this is a must read for all my mgrs and jr mgrs.



3. Great for the in dept look at a well run warehouse. Has all the details to help you start or clean-up an operation and help it run like a well oiled machine.

5 comments about Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers.

1. This is one of the few MUST HAVE books for Chemical Engineers doing process engineering. When I travel (for work) I always take "Transport Phenomena" (aka BSL), The GPA Databook and "Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers". Rules of Thumb... is a great reference for process design and trouble shooting field problems.

   A Practical Tip: The best thing to do with "Rules of Thumb for Chemical Engineers" is to carefuly remove the binding and put it into a 3-hole notebook (e.g., the GPA databook) and then file all the classic process design articles with the appropriate chapters.




2. This book is an excellent and priceless reference on Process Equipment Fundamentals and Quick Calculations for any engineer or practitioner working in the process industries. I am an Electronic Engineer, but I have been working for the last 16 years as an Instrumentation, Automation and Process Control Engineer for the Oil & Gas Industry. As a result I have been involved with Chemical Engineering issues in a day to day basic.
   
   I have found this book to be an excellent tool aid to analyze operational problems that affect process performance.
   
   Chemical engineers working in operations and design for the process industries will find this book most useful.



3. Hi
   
   I do not have a copy of the current edition, but a year ago I investigated purchasing a previous edition. What deterred me at the time was that all tips, tricks and equations etc. were in US units and thus only of very limited appeal to the Metric world.
   
   A question to a reviewer of the 4th edition - has the book become "international", i.e. quoting metric and US units? If not, it shall remain of limited desirability in the free world.
   
   Roland



4. This reference is highly useful for consulting work. It has its limits. A true rule-of-thumb book for chemical engineers would require volumes so I would say the author did well, hence the 5 stars. A good example of the limits of this book are what he does with knock-out pots. He limits his presentation to reflux drums instead of expanding his study to KO pots in general. The section on reflux drums is difficult to use because the tables presented for liquid holding times is difficult to understand, let alone use. The reader would be tempted to use this method for KO pots unless he sees the fine print in the corner of the page. Look for these caveates.
   
   The index is good, which is critical for such a reference. If I had a choice between buying Hicks or Branan, it would be a hard choice. I would probably advise the cheaper book, Branan. Besides, Hicks, "Standard Handbook of Engineering Calculations," covers a broad range of engineering calculations. Branan is more focused on chemical engineering. It is unfortunate that it is not expanded to cover more of the field.
   
   If this review was helpful, please add your vote.



5. This book is a work horse. It is extremly practical and to the point. Important concepts and design equations are laid out in a concise and easy to read format. This book noteworthy for the depth of the material covered and the incredibly succint delivery of that information.

5 comments about Juran's Quality Handbook (McGraw-Hill International Editions: Industrial Engineering Series).

1. Excellent reference. I used this in my Six Sigma Black Belt course. I referenced it many times. I could not have passed the test without it. Some of the chapters (e.g. quality in foriegn countries) did not interest me, but seemed to be well written -- such is the case anyway with references. I heard Dr. Godfrey speak at a national conference -- he is a real champion for Six Sigma.



2. The most complete quality reference available.
   The fifth edition includes new material on ISO 9000, benchmarking, the Baldrige and other awards, adoption of Strategic Quality Planning and TQM, management leadership for quality, self-directing teams, quality function deployment, and Tuguchi Methods.



3. Excellent reference..........Oh man the language and the content rocks. You need to read other books to appreciate this book more.
   Quality pro's..........you need to have one of this for sure.
   
   Warning: Not a best choice for "just preparing for a certification exam". It is too much of content for a "small goal of exam". Primer seems to do a good job



4. 
   "Juran's Quality Handbook" is an excellent book on Quality by one of the most well known quality gurus. The book gives a comprehensive coverage of the subject of quality management. It includes the latest techniques on quality as well as quality theories.
   
   This is a very useful book for those who are interested in producing quality goods and services in a customer focused organization. This huge tome is of immense value to all those involved with the quality profession and is an excellent reference book that covers the wide range of topics and subjects pertaining to quality.
   
   This is a well written book that is very useful for all businesses where quality matters (that is, all businesses). This should be essential reading for quality specialists such as control and quality assurance personnel.



5. For decades Joseph Juran has been a famous name in the quality movement. He formed his own institute for quality and has for many years edited an extensive volume on methods for improving quality in manufacturing processes. This Quality Handbook, now in its fifth edition has long been the basic reference for quality engineers and statistician alike. To honor Juran, the fifth edition is titled Juran's Quality Handbook. The volume is now over 900 pages and consists of 48 chapters and 5 appendices. There are 53 authors including Juran himself and his colleague and co-editor Blanton Godfrey. Many other well-known persons have contributed. It includes a chapter on government services by Vice President Al Gore. Prominent statisticians who have contributed include Don Marquardt, Stu Hunter, Bill Meeker, Luis Escobar, Gerry Hahn, Ed Schilling, Ed Dudewicz and Necip Doganaksoy.
   As a statistician, I particularly like having a wealth of practical statistical information and tables in one source. Dudewicz provides the introductory statistical material necessary to understand the four other statistical chapters that follow it (SPC by Wadsworth, Acceptance Sampling by Schilling, Design and Analysis of Experiments by Hunter and Reliability Concepts and Data Analysis by Meeker, Escobar, Doganaksoy and Hahn). These are all distinguished authors who are excellent writers and several have written whole text books on these subjects. This edition is up-to-date with the latest advances in quality techniques. Statistical advances in robust design (Taguchi methods), bootstrap methods, process control and capability are all included. Juran and Deming had major practical impact on the quality movement because they both emphasized the need for proper process management. This can be seen in many of the non-statistical chapters that deal with successful management techniques such as six sigma.
   
   This edition is even better than the previous editions and is indeed worthy of the title of bible. Despite the high cost this book is prominent on my bookshelf. I recommend it to anyone heavily involved in product reliability, even if they own copies of previous editions!

4 comments about Petroleum Refining: Technology and Economics, Fifth Edition.

1. This subject enables much of modern civilisation. From producing fuel for transport, of course. But the entire plastics industry also depends on these refineries. So Gary explains to a reader who hopefully has had some exposure to chemistry, how this comes about.
   
   The level of discussion is both at the molecular level of chemistry, but also at the engineering level of what this means in order to have an economically viable refinery. An undergraduate who is casting around, uncertain if she wants to major in chemical engineering, might be encouraged to read this book. It gives her a detailed perspective on the issues of the field.



2. I am an investment analyst and used this book to get up to speed on an unfamiliar industry. I found it to be clear, well organized, and containing all the info I needed to understand the dynamics driving the business and the lingo. There was more engineering and scientific info than I needed for my purposes, but it was useful to thumb through those chapters to get a high level understanding of the issues. Highly recommended for people new to the industry.



3. Oddly, only one reference book proved adequate, in my opinion, in explaining refinery science: "William Leffler's "Petroleum Refining." The others, including "Petroleum Refining, Technology and Economics," by James Gary, Glenn Handwerk, and Mark Kaiser, "Refining Processes Handbook," by Surinder Parkash, and even the venerable "Petroleum Processing Handbook," by Bland and Davidson. Leffler wins out because his process descriptions are fairly detailed compared to the others. Where this text, by Gary, Handwerk, and Kaiser fails is its lack of detailed process design information.
   
   For example, I was somewhat disappointed in the section on hydrotreating. This process involves removal of nitrogen and sulfur and alkylation of alkenes, phenols and benzenes from a feed of gas oils recovered from a pipestill. Tables provided showed the expected performance for the catalyst beds; some discussion was presented of the differences between fixed bed reactors and moving bed reactors. Only scant information was provided on reactor design. Even though it might have risked going into detail about a particular catalyst at the expense of others there was no exploration beyond mere statements of information such as hydrogen consumption and space velocity requirements. A good example of the failure to provide detail design information is the authors' reluctance to provide hydrogen consumption information in section 9.5.
   
   Instead, the reader is referred to a monograph written by W.L. Nelson in 1971 for the Oil and Gas Journal. Why not present the data?
   
   This situation highlights the primary problem with this text and the others: a lack of process design information. This book would have to grow by another hundred pages to meet his ambitions goal of providing a good reference for petroleum refining. Only Leffler meets this goal ¯ and, he does it without the science and engineering required in the other references.
   
   Unless you want incomplete details on the subject of petroleum refining, buy Leffler, not this text. However, of the others, this is a good reference book for the subject. Be prepared to fill in the copious quantities of gaps in information. Maybe, you should buy Leffler and this text.
   
   If this review was helpful, please add your vote.
   
   Thanks



4. Oddly, only one reference book proved adequate, in my opinion, in explaining refinery science: "William Leffler's "Petroleum Refining." The others, including "Petroleum Refining, Technology and Economics," by James Gary, Glenn Handwerk, and Mark Kaiser, "Refining Processes Handbook," by Surinder Parkash, and even the venerable "Petroleum Processing Handbook," by Bland and Davidson. Leffler wins out because his process descriptions are fairly detailed compared to the others while balancing a need to be understood by the non-technically educated. Where this text, by Gary, Handwerk, and Kaiser fails is its lack of detailed process design information.
   
   For example, I was somewhat disappointed in the section on hydrotreating. This process involves removal of nitrogen and sulfur and alkylation of alkenes, phenols and benzenes from a feed of gas oils recovered from a pipestill. Tables provided showed the expected performance for the catalyst beds; some discussion was presented of the differences between fixed bed reactors and moving bed reactors. Only scant information was provided on reactor design. Even though it might have risked going into detail about a particular catalyst at the expense of others there was no exploration beyond mere statements of information such as hydrogen consumption and space velocity requirements. A good example of the failure to provide detail design information is the authors' reluctance to provide hydrogen consumption information in section 9.5.
   
   Instead, the reader is referred to a monograph written by W.L. Nelson in 1971 for the Oil and Gas Journal. Why not present the data?
   
   This situation highlights the primary problem with this text and the others: a lack of process design information. This book would have to grow by another hundred pages to meet his ambitions goal of providing a good reference for petroleum refining. Only Leffler meets this goal ¯ and, he does it without the science and engineering required in the other references.
   
   Unless you want incomplete details on the subject of petroleum refining, buy Leffler, not this text. However, of the others, this is a good reference book for the subject. Be prepared to fill in the copious quantities of gaps in information. Maybe, you should buy Leffler and this text.
   
   If this review was helpful, please add your vote.
   
   Thanks

2 comments about Computer Integrated Manufacturing (3rd Edition).

1. Many manufacturing technology professors feel unsure about the nature and teaching computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)in their program. James A. Rehg and Henry W. Kraebber are dynamic authors, as they present CIM as a technical and strategic function of an organization. They offer a technical and management-based approach for understanding and implementing CIM in the "world class manufacturing" settings. Unlike other CIM books, Computer Integrated Manufacturing is written from the manufacturing technology professor's point of view with technical expertise. The CIM model used is consistent with the SME Manufacturing Enterprise Wheel developed by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. This books explains the fundamental principles as well as practical applications of computer integrated manufacturing in a clear and effective manner and the illustrations complement the text well.



2. Many manufacturing technology professors feel unsure about the nature and teaching computer integrated manufacturing (CIM)in their program. James A. Rehg and Henry W. Kraebber are dynamic authors, as they present CIM as a technical and strategic function of an organization. They offer a technical and management-based approach for understanding and implementing CIM in the "world class manufacturing" settings. Unlike other CIM books, Computer Integrated Manufacturing is written from the manufacturing technology professor's point of view with technical expertise. The CIM model used is consistent with the SME Manufacturing Enterprise Wheel developed by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. This books explains the fundamental principles as well as practical applications of computer integrated manufacturing in a clear and effective manner and the illustrations and complement the text well.

3 comments about Instrument Engineers' Handbook, Fourth Edition, Volume Two: Process Control and Optimization.

1. The first edition was published in 1969, the second edition was released in 1982 (Volume 1) and 1985 (Volume 2). This latest edition comprises over 3000 pages between the 2 volumes. Each volume includes 8 chapters with many sub-headings per chapter.

   The Flow Measurement (29 sub-headins) and Analytical Instrumentation (60 sub-headings) chapters were heavily revised for the 1995 edition of VOLUME 1. PLC's & Other Logic Devices (10 subheadings), DCS & Computer-based Systems (16 sub-headings) and Process Control Systems (27 sub-headings) were largely rewritten for the 1995 edition of VOLUME 2. Within each product-oriented sub-heading (eg. Magnetic Flowmeters, Infrared Analyzers, DCS Basic Packages), in addition to extensive treatment of the applicable technology, a comprehesive listing of manufacturers and typical price ranges is provided. Under Process Control Systems, a diverse group of applications (Airhandler Controls, Clean Room Controls, Distillation Advanced Controls, Compressor Controls, Reactor Control & Optimation and many others) is profiled. Throughout this handbook, process control is treated in the time-domain to minimize mathematical complications implicit in frequency-domain analysis. Its focus is the practicding engineer and explains most control phoenomena visually.

   Over 250 contributing authors are listed, including many prestigious names immediately recognizable by process control professionals. Liptak personally authored a substantial number of revised and up-dated easlier contribution of pioneering practitioners. This opus is a tour de force.

   Liptak is a long-time industrial consultant, teaches a graduate course in advanced process control at Yale and writes the widely-followed Lessons Learned feature in CONTROL magazine. He has also lectured at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and been published on the editorial pages of the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.




2. This book is a Must Have in your Engineering Library.
   Liptak provides extensive detail for this to be your one-stop-shop for controls as well as a great introduction & encyclopedia for the rookies.
   Hats off to Liptak and his team.
   Just brace yourself for the 1,500 pages of information !! ;)



3. 
   Absolutely the Very Best Process Control Reference for the Process Control Engineer - Now Updated and Expanded !!. This is the second volume of the Instrument Engineer's Handbook, and. as its title suggests, it deals with Process control and Optimization, covering everything from Control Hardware, Control Theory, Control Strategies, and the Control and Optimization of Specific Unit Operations.
   
   The Chapters on Control Hardware cover in detail transmitters, controllers, control valves, regulators and other types of final control elements, PLCs, and other logic devices, human interfaces and displays, including the design of control rooms.
   
   The Chapters on Control Theory and Control Strategies covers everything from control basics and PID controllers, to tuning methods, stability, process characteristics, process modeling and simulation, model-based control, genetic and other evolutionary algorithms, fuzzy logic programming, neural networks and other advance control strategies.
   
   The Chapters on Control and Optimization of Unit Operations provide both in-depth of both the theory of operation and control, and practical implementation for the control of pumping, distillation, chemical reaction, heat transfer and many other.
   
   While evaluating and reviewing such sophisticated topics about Process Control, this handbook also tries and succeeds to provide and reinforce the reader with the most useful tool for the Automation and Control Engineer: Common Sense. In order to emphasize the importance of Common Sense, the Author gives some practical recommendations that include the following ones:
   
   - Before we can control a process, one must fully understand it.
   - Being progressive is good, but being a guinea pig is not. Therefore is the wrong control strategy is implemented, the performance of even the most advanced digital hardware will be unacceptable.
   - And Instrumentation, Automation, and Process Control Engineer or Technician is doing a good and better job by telling plant management what they need to know, and not what they like to hear.
   - If an instrument is worth installing, it should also be worth calibrating and maintaining. No device can outperform the reference against it was calibrated.
   - Trust your common sense not the sales literature. Independent performance evaluation based on the recommendation of international and national users associations should be done before installation, and not after it.
   
   I am an Industrial Practitioner of Process Measurement & Control. I have been working in the Process Industries for more than 16 years as an Automation, Instrumentation, Process Safety and Process Control Engineer. I consider this book to be the very best reference in the field for anyone and everyone working in these areas or in areas related with their Industrial applications. You will find this handbook useful, either if your work is related with the engineering, maintenance or operation of Process Control Systems.
   
   If you are a beginner to Process Control, you may also want to consider "Process Dynamics, Modeling, and Control (Topics in Chemical Engineering)" by Babatunde A. Ogunnaike, which is an excelent introductory reference to Chemical Processes Dynamics and Control.