This Introduction to Manufacturing focuses students on the issues that matter to practicing industrial engineers and managers. It offers a systems perspective on designing, managing, and improving manufacturing operations. On each topic, it covers the key issues, with pointers on where to dig deeper. Unlike the many textbooks on operations management, supply chain management, and process technology, this book weaves together these threads as they interact in manufacturing. It has five parts: Getting to Know Manufacturing : Fundamental concepts of manufacturing as an economic activity, from manufacturing strategy to forecasting market demand - Engineering the Factory : Physical design of factories and processes, the necessary infrastructure and technology for manufacturing - Making Information Flow: The "central nervous system" that triggers and responds to events occurring in production - Making Materials Flow : The logistics of manufacturing, from materials handling inside the factory via warehousing to supply chain management - Enhancing Performance: Managing manufacturing performance and methods to maintain and improve it, both in times of normal operations and emergencies Supported with rich illustrations and teaching aids, Introduction to Manufacturing is essential reading for industrial engineering and management students – of all ages and backgrounds – engaged in the vital task of making the things we all use. "This superb book explains how to design, manage, and improve manufacturing operations. Based on their deep expertise, Baudin and Netland compellingly present a great resource of manufacturing knowledge - useful for both novices and experts."– Charles H. Fine, Chrysler LGO Professor of Management,MIT Sloan School of Management "Baudin and Netland’s comprehensive text serves as an important and timely reminder that manufacturing remains as important in a world of ubiquitous digitalization, as it ever has been." – Matthias Holweg, Professor and American Standard Companies Chair of Operations Management, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford "This is the first book of its kind, situated at the nexus of manufacturing, industrial engineering, and management – precisely what students and organizations need." – Adedeji Badiru, Professor and Dean of Graduate School of Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology "What an incredibly timely book. Global events continue to starkly illustrate the critical role that manufacturing plays in all our lives – and its impact when things go wrong. Baudin and Netland’s beautifully structured and accessible book gives an excellent introduction to this critical topic, helpfully framed by both industrial engineering and management perspectives." ― Tim Minshall, Dr John C Taylor Professor of Innovation and Head of the Institute for Manufacturing, University of Cambridge "Easy to read, yet rich in knowledge. This textbook is the ultimate introduction to anyone interested in a career in manufacturing." ― Gisela Lanza, Professor and Head of Production Systems, wbk Institute of Production Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology "Given the ever-changing nature of manufacturing technologies, I love how the authors emphasize the flow of information and materials within and beyond the factory to provide an integrative approach to introduce manufacturing and management perspectives to industrial engineers." ― Timothy W. Simpson, Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design & Manufacturing, College of Engineering, Penn State University "Finally a textbook that describes manufacturing as what it is: an ensemble of processes, technology, and people. It is a terrific primer to manufacturing students and professionals." ― Li Zheng, Professor of Industrial Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, Tsinghua University "What is really remarkable about this book is its sharp focus combined with coverage of a rich range of topics. The reader is captivated from the very first page, and with delightfully clear examples and crisp writing, the book takes the reader from a basic understanding of the fundamental concepts in manufacturing to highly sophisticated notions of the impact of manufacturing at micro and macro levels. This book is useful not just for students but also for scholars." ― Kasra Ferdows, Professor of Global Manufacturing, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University "This state-of-the-art textbook on manufacturing addresses the challenges of today’s factories. It is an essential manual for students and professionals." ― Jochen Deuse, Professor and Head of Institute of Production Systems, TU Dortmund and Head of Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, University of Technology Sydney "In this amazing book, Baudin and Netland present challenging technical concepts in an easy, accessible form that anyone can follow. Providing the historical context in which industrial engineering concepts and operations management theories evolved will b