Factory Physics Author: | Language: English | ISBN:
007123246X | Format: PDF
Factory Physics Description
After a brief introductory chapter, Factory Physics 3/e is divided into three parts: I – The Lessons of History; II – Factory Physics; and III – Principles in Practice. The scientific approach to manufacturing and supply chain management, developed in Part II, is unique to this text. No other text or professional book provides a rigorous, principles-based foundation for manufacturing management. The Third Edition offers tighter connections between Lean Manufacturing, MRP/ERP, Six Sigma, Supply Chain Management, and Factory Physics. In addition to enhancing the historical overview of how these systems evolved, the authors show explicitly how users can achieve Lean Manufacturing objectives (faster response, less inventory) using the integration aspects of MRP/ERP/SCM systems along with the variance analysis methods of Six Sigma. Factory Physics provides the overarching framework that coordinates all of these initiatives into a single-focused strategy.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- Paperback: 720 pages
- Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 3rd edition (February 1, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 007123246X
- ISBN-13: 978-0071232463
- Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8 x 10 inches
- Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
I am a researcher and statistician with a background of 20 years experience in applied business and academics. One day I stumbled over Spearman and Hopps "Factory Physics". Literally... The book consists of three parts: An interesting historical and technical introduction to the development of SCM as a science ("Origin of SCM"), followed by the elaboration as a framework ("Factory Physics"), and finally "Principles in Practice" as the third part. The more I read the book, the longer got my list of fundamental criticisms:
1) The main formulas fit on four (!) pages, the inner sides of the front and back cover. The remaining over 700+ (!) pages are used to explain the formulas. This book is incredibly long-winded, repeating all over, and still could have explained a lot shorter and better. Not to mention the lack of definitions, symbols not explained, and also the usual typos and errors.
2) The formulas celebrated as "physics" are nothing more than simple mathematical formulas. From this follow several problems met also in corporate practice: Complex SCM practice processes can not be modeled by simple mathematical formulas and EXCEL. One reason are the formulas themselves: Several researchers have demonstrated that the "Factory Physics" formulas are not suitable for complex SCM processes, for example Chen and Ye (2002): "Our analysis suggests that we should be very cautious about the applicability of these laws". From this again follows that companies will be faced with massive problems optimize their SCM processes with the "Factory Physics" approach.
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