Global competition in the manufacturing arena continues to intensify, exerting unrelenting pressure for better quality, faster delivery, greater product diversity and lower price. In response, manufacturers have undergone significant, often wrenching changes to reengineer existing processes. While these changes may have resulted in substantial improvements, they have only been achieved through the expenditure of extraordinary levels of effort. And still, managers are left with the uncomfortable feeling they are falling short of market expectations.

Volume II applies the Synchronous Management principles to complex manufacturing environments, identifies the most critical implementation issues, and illustrates the key concepts with several case studies.

The main thread that runs through Volume II is that manufacturing plants can be segmented into three general categories- referred to as V-plants, A-plants, and T-plants. The behavior of real-life plants can be understood in terms of combinations of these generic plant types. Recommended strategies for implementing Synchronous Managment concepts in each of these plant types is discussed.

A key feature of this volume is the use of detailed case studies to illustrate systematic processes for implementing Synchronous Management along with the attendant logistical systems. Four extensive case studies are presented in this volume, each based on an actual Synchronous Management implementation. In each case, key issues and the framework for the implementation process are described. The case study is then used to illustrate these concepts and demonstrate the implementation process.

Topics covered include:

- Misallocation Problems

- How to Classify Your Plant (V-A-T)

- Implementation Issues and examples in "V" plants

- Implementation Issues and examples in "A" plants

- Implementation Issues and examples in "T" plants

- General Framework for Implementing Synchronous Management