cover image THE PERFECT ENGINE:  How to Win in the New Demand Economy by Building to Order with Fewer Resources

THE PERFECT ENGINE: How to Win in the New Demand Economy by Building to Order with Fewer Resources

Anand Sharma, Patricia E. Moody, Lloyd Ward, . . Free Press, $30 (304pp) ISBN 978-0-7432-0381-4

Long on jargon but short on tangible examples and "how-to" advice, consultants Sharma and Moody try to explain how to increase efficiency in manufacturing companies. Building on Six Sigma, the quality control program used by GE among other companies, and on Japanese just-in-time manufacturing techniques, the authors try to explain how to make more products in less time with fewer resources. Ironically, the information isn't delivered efficiently at all. (Oct.)