Rewsfeed

Answers to noise problems limited appeal

BOOK REVIEWS

A good introduction to production control

Production control in engineering D K Corke Edward Arnold 1977, 257 pages, 100 illustrations, price 7-95 management", covers the fundamental concepts. It points out the areas where top management should be involved in making strategic decisions, and lays bare some of the fallacies clung to by many production managers. Mr Corke gives some examples in this section, taken from his obviously wide experience as a management consultant, but I would have preferred more of them in order to maintain the reader's interest and make him identify initially with the problem and, hopefully, with the solution. I would have liked to see a chapter on structuring parts lists (or bills of material). This is often a major problem, caused by many functions in a company maintaining their own bills of material, with often at least five versions in one company (engineering design, process planning, production control, costing and the shopfloor). Management of engineering changes also needs to be included. The second section covers some basic techniques, such as forecasting and group technology, usefully separated from the main text. I would have liked to see a chapter on material requirements planning (only covered fairly briefly) and some more information on the use of computers, and the problems and benefits that can arise in this area. I would also have liked a reference list for further reading on the more complex areas of production control. In summary, the book is well written, well illustrated, and very readable. It gives a good introduction to production control, and should be compulsory reading for management in engineering companies. sheena |ns|is

Industrial noise control handbook Paul N Cheremisinoff and Peter P Cheremisinoff Production control is a function often delegated Ann Arbor Science Publishers Inc at too low a level in a company. For any pro1977, 357 pages, 237 illustrations, 7 page duction control system to be effective, the basic glossary, price I9-<S() principles must be understood by top management who must be involved in defining approAs indicated in the foreword, this book has been priate strategies for the company. The gains published for the benefit of engineers with from developing good production control industrial noise problems. The emphasis is on systems can be far greater than the cost of the practical solution of noise problems rather installing and maintaining them. For example, than the theoretical analysis of designs and the the amount of money invested by companies in resulting specification of suitable noise insula- stocks and work-in-progress is often phenomention before commissioning. ally and unnecessarily high, and is accompanied Whilst there is a good general description of by no real understanding of how the company the mechanism of the ear and the effects of came to be in such a position. noise, there is a scrupulous avoidance of any This book is therefore intended for managemedical or physiological terms. There is also a comprehensive exposition of the American ment, both inside and outside the production OSHA legislation which in the absence of our function, to give them a basic understanding of own noise legislation, but pending the imposi- how the production control function works and tion of our own 'Code of practice for reducing what it can achieve. It also describes some of the exposure of employed persons to noise', is the techniques used, and would provide a basic textbook for management students. of particular interest. There have been many developments in the A chapter on 'Engineering controls and systems design", provides a useful general guide past 10 years in this area, and this book is in the matter of specification of plant, instal- therefore a complete revision of Mr Corke's lations and buildings. The engineering controls previous book, published in 1969 and entitled considered include maintenance, substitution 'Production control is management'. It covers of machines, substitution of processes, vibration production control for the three main types of damping and isolation, isolation of the operator manufacturingflow, batch and jobbing production but, inevitably in a book this length, it and design of systems. tends to concentrate on batch production. The matter of personal hearing protection is The book is divided into two sections. The dealt with by a description of most devices commonly available, with indications of first, entitled 'Production control as part of variations in efficiency due to the manner of wearing. Due emphasis is given to the importance of education of both management and employees, with the need to explain the personal environmental noise problem to the worker. There is a clear statement of the Basic electrical engineering and instrumentation importance of audio-metric examinations to for engineers detect any threshold of hearing shift and there E C Bell and R W Whitehead is particular emphasis on the importance of the Crosby Lock Staples foreman in all aspects of personal hearing 1977, 487 pages, price 495 (paperback) protection. There are eight chapters devoted to the noise This book covers the basic electrical and reduction of various systems with materials electronic engineering required in civil, chemsuch as lead, glass, acoustic foams, flexible ical and mechanical engineering courses and pads, mounts and springs. The systems discus- will be valuable in the earlier years of diploma sed as sources of noise where attenuation has courses in electrical engineering. The early chapters present the fundamental been achieved are gears, jet engine and stationary aircraft silencing systems, fluid systems and laws of electricity and magnetism, the basic associated valve noise and ventilating systems. circuit theorems, and the techniques used in the All systems of importance to any works engineer seeking to quieten his factory. This work does not fully achieve its objective in providing practical solutions to noise problems. The reader is left with many unanswered questions due to a lack of theoretical treat- The energy managers' handbook ment which would have made the subject more Gordon A Payne explicable. The authors seem to be glossing over IPC Science and Technology Press and avoiding the real technicalities of an 1977, 147 pages, 68 illustrations, price 4-75 admittedly highly technical subject to make (paperback) their writing of practical use and failing in their objective. This failing in conjunction with This handbook is for managers, engineers and relation to the United States safety legislation others responsible for the management and and sound absorption materials not commonly conservation of energy in industry. It covers the available in this country is likely to limit the main aspects of energy use from boilers and furnaces to air compressors and space heating. appeal of this work. R H Capp Sections are devoted to the role of management
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Basic electrical engineering

steady-state analysis of alternating current networks. There are chapters describing the basic semi-conductor devices and their application to amplifiers and power supplies. Other topics covered include transformers, transducers, measurements, machines, and signal processing. There are brief notes on lighting, heating and tariffs, and an introduction to digital systems. The book contains many worked examples and attention is drawn to practical applications wherever possible. Both authors are lecturers in the department of electrical and electronic engineering at the University of Bradford.

The management of energy

and energy audits, with suggestions for data collection. The book features comprehensive checklists which are intended to provide a basis for effective action. Appendices cover energy units and conversion factors, simple test equipment and suggestions for further reading. Gordon Payne is an independent adviser on industrial energy matters, having served on the council of the Institute of Fuel, and later chairman of the London and Home Counties section. The Production Engineer - November 1977