5 comments about Lean Six Sigma for Service : How to Use Lean Speed and Six Sigma Quality to Improve Services and Transactions.

1. I found this book very well written and easy to understand. Although repetitive at times Mr. George did a good job of explaining both Lean and Six Sigma concepts along with some case studies.
   Like I said; A good overview without all the details.



2. I think this book contains a very informative overview of the application of six sigma methodolgies for service. Very good reading for any professional interested in Lean Six Sigma. I also strongly recommend Lean Six Sigma That Works: A Powerful Action Plan for Dramatically Improving Quality, Increasing Speed, And Reducing Waste along side of it.



3. Good book to understand how lean and six sigma can be used together, but their examples in service enviroment are not that powerful.



4. Lean Six Sigma for Service is a topic of increasing importance and economic and competitive factors require us all to make a difference rather than just doing more with less. That distinction is at the heart of Michael George's book and central to his idea of putting both Lean and Six Sigma practices together. This is a good introductory text for understanding both techniques and how they can work together.
   
   Lean Six Sigma for Service has been out since 2003 so this is not the first review but in today's context the value and relevance of this book is in question. George does a nice job of describing the processes and its application at Lockheed Martin and Bank One. Those descriptions cement his credibility that he has done this work. However they do not shed light on what that work actually was. I found this book surprisingly conceptual and technical with limited applications and actual examples - illustrations of the principles yes - but this is what we did not so much.
   
   The success story vignettes are written at such a high level as to categorize the scale of benefits that Lockheed Martin and Bank One achieved. It would have been much better for George to go deep on one project, show a worked example and create value for the reader. The success stories themselves also focus on back office activities (invoicing etc) which while a role for these technique are not the areas that will get breakthrough service levels.
   
   These are weaknesses as that experience is definitely there but it does not come out in the book. When it was written more than 5 years ago, the author may have been concerned about revealing too much and devaluating his consulting practice. But now with people coming round to wanting to understand and implement, this is not a book for them.
   
   There are other little things that are interesting gaps in the book. On a subject matter basis there is no mention of Motorola's role in creating and deploying six sigma. From the books perspective only the people that Mr. George worked with were the creators and the innovators. That is unfortunate. Another gap is the lack of discussion about information technology and the role that this plays. Even in 2003, IT had a role to play in Six Sigma and lean - particularly at an enterprise scale, but the book is mute on these things.
   
   So, if you are looking for a general discussion of these concepts then this is as good as any other book. However, if you want to understand how to do these techniques and apply them to service you will need to look elsewhere.



5. For someone who is looking for how to improve the service quality, this is the right book!

5 comments about Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers.

1. The answers it gives you are sporadic and some are hard to follow. I was expecting solutions to all the odd problems and a little more detail with the solutions. I would not recommend buying this unless it were $10 or less.



2. This book is not recommended for self study or distance courses. There are only sporadic answers to odd problems, most books of this type have answers for every odd problem. The student solution manual is even more worthless, some chapters have only 2 or 3 worked problems per chapter. Learning statistics with this book in a distance education course is really more painful than it should be. If you have to get this book, do not waste your money on the student solution manual.
   This book may be a good reference to someone who already knows statistics, but to someone learning, especially without the benefit of lectures, the description and examples are way too sparse.



3. This book covers almost everything useful about statistics and probability. It has good examples, good explanations and good applications to engineering problems. Useful for students, professors and profesionals.



4. Not enough solutions were selected to help me out for the class of Statistics that I was taking. Instead of every odd problem it was more like one out of every 5 or 6 problems.



5. I bought this book for my statistic class. this book is great. Examples are easy to follow and the theory is easy to read.

5 comments about Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual.

1. This is a great book. I love the extensive coverage of electrical systems, as it seems so many boaters have problems with electrical. I was a little surprised that the engine section only covers diesel engines. No big deal, as most of the other stuff applies to gas too (impellers, transmission, etc), but I wanted to know a little about a head overhaul and there's not much there for the gas engine owner.
   Still, I'd highly recommend this book to any boat owner who also has the gumption to do the work themselves.



2. I'm redesigning the electrical system for my boat and portions of this book has given me the knowledge to make informed decisions, with an understanding of the trade offs, about what features and capabilities I would like my new system to have. It has also provided information to allow me to make intelligent decisions about selecting new components to achieve my electrical system goals efficiently (save money by not buying things I don't need). I would recommend this book for the person with a basic knowledge of electricity who wants to understand either how their current electrical system works or how they might change it to make it better.



3. This is the second Nigel Calder book I own, and I am even more impressed. I am an ASA-certified instructor qualified to teach through bareboat chartering and coastal navigation. I have sailed on all sorts of boats, have owned a cruising style boat for six years, have heard boat owners and students complain about various problems, have read dozens of books, and through all of this have experienced so many mysteries related to corrosion, electrical problems, equipment problems, and issues with various boat systems. For the first time, I feel I have a single reference manual specific to boat systems that not only provides clear troubleshooting steps but goes beyond troubleshooting to clearly explain the mechanical and physical principles that demystify why things go wrong and how the troubelshooting steps systematically work through problems. The explanations are understandable, the instructions and safety tips are effective, and the diagrams and photos are valuable. It has already helped me deal with a grounding problem that was causing our main cirvruit breaker to trip!



4. No this is not a book for inland gas boats! This is a book for ocean going vessels. Both power and sail. I have cruised on a 28' Columbia (outboard) and a 41' Islander Freeport (perkins). It was a *must have* with the Cruising Handbook in 4 years of full time cruising. [...] Fairwinds!



5. I have a 1987 Catalina 30 sailboat with a diesel engine. I wish I had purchased a copy of this book six years ago when I bought my boat. I might have saved hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars in yard bills by doing more of the work myself with the help of this book. I have the 2nd Edition published in 1995. I think it is well organized, well written, and I find the illustrations to be clear. A friend of mine purchased the 3rd Edition, which has updated information, particularly on electronics. However I am extremely satisfied with the 2nd Edition for my needs.

2 comments about Machinery's Handbook Toolbox Edition (Machinery's Handbook).

1. it's all you need, the best in it's class. There is a little bit of everything inside...bible of engineering



2. Great reference book for the engineer or machinist. The book I purchased was listed as used and in excellent condition. It was as advertised, perhaps even better. Shipping was fast and ahead of projection. Couldn't be happier with my Amazon.com purchase!

5 comments about Theory and Design for Mechanical Measurements.

1. Don't invest your money. The content of this book is very intermittent.



2. I used the 2nd edition of this book while in engineering labs at Clemson and now use the 2nd and now 3rd edition in my test engineering work. I find myself being able to go into it and pulling out enough information to get me going on a new test design project. The stuff on uncertainty cannot be found elsewhere and useful. One of the better real-world texts.



3. By the middle of the second chapter I realised that a monkey proofread this book. I couldnt believe there were as many stupid mistakes as there actually were.
   Buy it only if you're not actually going to read it.



4. This book is well written but it does require that you pay attention and think. I found this book to be very useful to understand engineering measurements. After three engineering coop internships, I enjoyed some rationale for methods I learned in practice. Lots of examples. Some of the Labview programs were helpful. One of the more useful texts.



5. I would recommend this book to every beginning engineer and experimentalist. The book is full of examples, derivations, and lots of questions. It does require that you actually read it to get anything out of it, but the best feature is the online material, with MATLAB programs, videos, and additional material. I have found this book is very enjoyable to teach out of, and given future opportunities I will use it much more.

5 comments about Sketching User Experiences: Getting the Design Right and the Right Design (Interactive Technologies).

1. further--- internalize. What I cannot fathom is how such well put high level strategy comes out of companies which walk to a totally different tone. Buxton built a vision for the role of design in organizations, which could (and should) quickly be matched with the last 36 months of business magazine publications highlighting the importance of creativity and innovation, stumbling upon the linkages between business strategy and human centered design. If you like answers about how to actually bring creative problem solving to a daunting product opportunity this has an impressive battery of them.



2. As a person who makes his living trying to help high-tech companies become competent at designing experiences this book was a delight to read. This book is neither the puffery of a consultant, nor the impractical musings of an academic. It reflects the author's significant experience and success in both commercial and academic endeavors. Bill brings together concepts from across various design disciplines to explain how design should be done, and why high-tech companies rarely succeed at it.



3. Bill Buxton does an outstanding job exploring the role design should play in an organization which really sticks in your head. He also explains how a sketch can go a long way as a communication tool during the product life cycle. Just brilliant.



4. I was fortunate enough to see Bill Buxton lecture last year. After the lecture, I picked up this book since it extended on the themes he was discussing. I found his thoughts on the fidelity of the designs for different levels of development extremely helpful.



5. This is a compelling book. It manages to blend business, organizational and design thinking on the user experience. In doing this, Bill Buxton makes the case for (i) the centrality of design in driving business value and (ii) the importance of investing in the design process. The importance of exploration and play in design is called out, and the role of making multiple light, inexpensive sketches of alternatives as an important part of the design process. Buxton also brings together the separate histories of the industrial design (the people who make things) and the software design worlds, sprinkling in some lessons from film making for good measure. And he reinforces the importance of knowing the traditions and their high points if you want to innovate. All of these lessons are vital to our collective future.
   
   I liked this book enough to buy copies for people on my design and business teams, and I will probably give my copy to my boss. I may get a copy for my son as well, who is involved in furniture design in Vancouver.
   
   The book does have a couple of weaknesses. The most serious is that Bill seems to think that people don't sketch in code. I am pretty sure that this is not what he thinks - he has seen plenty of people sketch in code and most of the code created by university researchers is a form of sketch - branching code that explores, plays and demonstrates possibilities. The book can also be read as advocating a waterfall process rather than something more agile. One reason may be that he is focused on the design of interactive objects and environments where there are high production costs. But this kind of waterfall approach is not all that useful for people (such as myself) who are building businesses around the delivery of software as a service. And taking Bill's own advice, and looking out a few years, it seems likely that most of us will have 3D printers in our homes and that eventually these 3D printers will be able to print 3D programmable objects. With shape memory plastics and other such smart materials, one of the things with behaviours (interactions) may even be the shape itself.
   
   Still an important book, and one that points to more thinking and more learning. The gallery of important user experience sketches is worth deep study.

5 comments about Technical Communication (11th Edition) (MyTechCommLab Series).

1. John Lannon was a successful author of a college writing and composition textbook. He then created various spinoffs so that his publisher could cover more markets: business writing, technical writing, and so on (for both college and high school).
   
   So he's really not a current specialist in technical writing, and he's not employed as a technical writer. He's just an English instructor who has been using essentially the same basic materials in all his books for decades.
   
   This text is a perfect example. It has very little to do with today's field of technical communications. There are many other textbooks that have more specific and up-to-date examples and guidelines for contemporary technical writers. Any book by Hackos, for example, runs circles around this one.

   In any case, he and his publisher don't need your single-copy sale. They sell thousands of these books for coursewide use at many schools across the country for use in very elementary courses. They don't care about individual users.

   So save your money and buy something else!





2. This book is written well and is a useful tool to use when writing everything from a resume and cover letter to a complete proposal. It also give instructions on how to make a web page and scripting in html. Although I am sure that this material is very similiar to that of the previous editions, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to write better.

   I wish that I had not read the previous bad reviews and ordered this book in hardcover instead of a used softcover.




3. i was supprised that it was the teachers edition but it will still be usefull thanks



4. This book is a step-by-step instruction to different kinds of technical writing. It is easy to understand and follow. The topics are well organized and clearly outlined, which makes it easy to read.
   It's a nice reference book if you have to look up different writing styles.



5. Other reviews seem to focus on the fact that the newer edition doesn't have enough "new stuff." The examples are updated, the listed websites are updated, there are several expanded sections. Technical writing isn't like neuroscience or some field that is rapidly expanding, so it's not going to have huge new sections of material. If there is any drawback to the book, it's that it covers EVERYTHING which may be overwhelming if you are just want to pick up a quick reference.
   
   Overall it's a good book particularly if you are using it for a class where you have an instructor who can take you into more depth on each topic. It's not a Stephen King style page turner, but obviously that's not what it's trying to be.
   
   Recommended for savvy readers and students.

5 comments about Operations Management for Competitive Advantage with Student DVD.

1. This book is comprehensive, up-to-date and well-written. The 'technical notes' appended to some chapters provide a little mathematical underpinning to discussions of topics like queuing theory, SPC, and linear programming, but the emphasis is on practical applications and there are plenty of worked examples.
   The target audience deserves to be much greater than aspiring or actual manufacturing managers. By setting OM within a strategic context, by addressing both services and products, and by covering the entire product lifecycle, this book equips anybody concerned with performance improvement in any business with an indispensable toolbox. It's virtually an MBA in a box.



2. This seller sent the wrong text with the wrong ISBN, even though it is an edition of this text, it's not what was advertised. Also, I paid for expedited shipping and received it non-priority along with making an extra donation who pocketed the difference. BEWARE!!!
   
   If I could import the pics of what I was sent, I would



3. I was very pleased with the availability of this textbook. My professor had originally reserved a different book then changed her mind last minute. The first day of class we not only had an assignment, but we also had to scramble to get the "revised" book. Thanks to Amazon for giving such prompt service.



4. This is a very good book required by many MBA programs. The book contains much useful information with detailed analysis and examples. The biggest problem I have with this book is the use of the word "it." I find it hard to figure out what "it" is. "Rule 3. Merge Information-Processing Work into the Real Work That Produces the Information. This means that people who collect information should also be responsible for processing it. It minimizes the need for another group to reconcile and process that information..." There are countless examples of the use of "it." In the same section (Principles of Reengineering) the authors make note that "it" refers to the actual rule 3, while in rule 4, "it" is noted as the result of the rule. The authors could have chosen an alternate phrase instead of confusing the reader with the lack vocabulary. Although, I have the problem with pronoun usage, the book is very well laid out and flows greatly from operations strategy to supply chain planning and control. The supplements that are available with the book include financial analysis tools, operations technology tools as well as sample problems.



5. I didn't get a chance to use this book, dropped the class after I ordered it.

5 comments about Managing for Quality and Performance Excellence (with CD-ROM).

1. I used an older edition of this book in preparing for the ASQ Certified Quality Manager Exam. It is a great reference.



2. It is straightforward book. Each chapter has some case study, which is real application of Quality management. I would strongly recommend for students as well as managers to read this book. It has different point of views from various Philosophers like Dr. Deming, Dr. Juran, Crosby and other well-known persons.



3. Came quickly with the software package included.
   Saved over $20 from school bookstore website!



4. Long, verbose, time consuming and WORTH EVERY BIT OF IT!
   
   Was an assigned text for an upper level university Management course. Excellent choice. The content made sense, was well written/easy to read, and continually built on earlier chapters.
   
   It's still on my shelf as a reference I refer to often in my business. Wouldn't be without it!



5. Honestly, unless you want to pore through every major modern quality system (ie ISO, Baldridge) and amass the details of countless companies (from Ritz Carlton to SSM Health - yes, healthcare!), buy the book.
   
   Once you do, expect a tremendous return on this investment for an up to date, well organized, and thorough look at quality in its practical application. To get the most bang for your buck, get the latest version so your not quoting what the Ritz did 5 years ago.

5 comments about Microsoft® Office Project 2003 Step by Step (Step By Step (Microsoft)).

1. This book not only teaches you how to use MS Project, but it also explains a lot about Project Management. Anyone learning MS Project should also understand Project Management, just like you should know grammar when you are using MS Word. This book also uses good examples and is very enjoyable to read. In fact, it teaches in such a way that allows me to be able to grasp its definitions! Very helpful!!



2. The book was required text for a course I am taking and the cd that came with this book did install on my computer, I got a replacement cd and it did not install. So to me buying the book was a waste of time and money.



3. Good step by step workbook, as advertised. Easy to follow along and the instruction in the book does match what is on your screen. No fault of the book but the software has too many optional ways to arrive at the same functionality. Should be rationalized.
   
   I recommend the book.



4. I really enjoyed this book (I've read about 80% of it so far). I already knew the basics of Microsoft Project, and was able to skip the first couple chapters of it. But I found that for the topics where I needed a refresher or to learn completely new material, it was perfect for me.
   
   I'm not someone who needs to spend an hour to learn a simple task. The Step-By-Step series tell you you're gonna learn, how it applies in a realistic example, and walks you through the steps. They don't beat around the bush and they don't give you too much or too less.
   
   The screenshots were helpful as well.
   
   But what I liked most about the book -- which was an unexpected bonus -- is the little tidbits of Project Management wisdom thrown in to each chapter plus an entire chapter at the end. I'm not a PMP, but reading these sections was like reading a PMP refresher book.



5. This book is great. Very helpful.
   
   I am disappointed that although I "qualified" for free super saver shipping with my order, it was not applied. Feels deceptive on Amazon's part. And don't tell me that I didn't select it, this is not the first time this has happened.