BOOK REVIEWSManage your projectsAdvanced projectmanagement.A structuredapproach.3rd editionF. L. HarrisonGower Publishing Company

Ltd.

1992, 308pp, £38-50

ISBN 0 566091 00 3

Advanced project management(APM) is relatively easy to readand follow not only for thequalified manufacturing engin-eer but also for the student. Thetext is very well structured andflows nicely throughout. Theattention of the reader ismaintained throughout and is notdiverted from the main thrust ofthe book's objectives with a lotof the mass trivia and complexarguments associated with a lot ofacademic literature.

There are three major sections:

1 an introduction to projectmanagement and organisa-tional structure;

2 project planning and control;3 human behaviour in the

project environment.

Each section is very wellstructured. In particular the keyelements for analysis, evaluationand guidance are simply buteffectively tabulated prior to themain text. There is an excellentchapter on managing a very largeand complex project adopting anapproach of segmenting into fourlevels of planning and providingdetails of methodologies such asnetworks, bar charts and job cardsystems. Certainly the newlyappointed project managershould not feel intimidated byeither the level of academia ortechnicalities of this chapter.

The message certainly comes

Wide-ranging technologyIntegration andmanagement oftechnology formanufacturingE. H. Robson,H. M. Ryan andD. Wilcock (Eds.)Peter Peregrinus Ltd.

I99l,463pp, £57

ISBN 0 863412 06 8

Having seen the contents listbefore the book itself, I wassurprised by the number ofdiverse subjects with a consider-able spread of both generalinterest and very specific topicsbeing covered. The qualificationfor inclusion becomes apparentfrom the editors' preface whichexplains that the individualsections are a collection of paperspresented at a 1989 SunderlandPolytechnic conference; papersare grouped into four sectionsunder the headings of strategicissues, management strategies,controlling the quality andplanning and scheduling.

Strategic issues includes a fairmix of points of view, wordsketches and observations onfamiliar issues surroundinginvestment in AMT. Some of thearticles refer to very particulartopics but the majority (often inthis section) either whet theappetite to investigate subjectsthrough additional reading orhave items which spark furtherthought or shed new light on afamiliar problem.

The introduction to section 2,covering management strategies,is more extended than for section1 and perhaps allows a better ideaof the common theme ofchapters in this section. Eitherbecause of this or because thetopics are less specific in contentI was more comfortable in thispart of the book and found itmore thought provoking, withseveral items striking particularlypainful chords!

Section 3, controlling thequality, as with the first sectioncontains some articles which do

over that every project is uniqueand has its own idiosyncracies butthe framework provided for inthe text allows for ordered designin any given circumstances.

In line with modern thinkinga whole section is devoted tohuman behaviour in the projectenvironment, in particularattention is placed on identifyingand managing conflict. Theconclusions at the end of eachsection provide a very goodsummary and would in them-selves provide a framework forAPM.

In conclusion, one is left toreally appreciate the need forproper management of anadvanced project with aneffective workable team adoptingan ordered structure. At ^38-50a drawback to the self-financedstudent, but a good investment atcorporate level.

CRAIG E. DONE

not sit entirely comfortablywithin that heading, not becauseof any failure to be interesting,but because the coherence andpattern of the subjects do notreadily flow together.

Planning and scheduling, isrepresented by informativearticles with points of interest formost manufacturing engineers.

In summary, I enjoyed readingthe majority of this book, withfew of the articles being toospecific to be of general interest,and found many items withimmediate practical value.Although each article isdescribed as a chapter few are adefinitive coverage of wholetopics, but are, rather, appetisersto a wider area of interest. Myonly concern is that in beingreleased as part of the Managementof Technology series by the IEE, itis implied that this represents astandard work or reference on thesubject of its tide and I do notbelieve it fulfils that description.

DAVID SOUTH

CostingmadesimpleProject and costengineers'handbook.Third editionKenneth K.Humphreys and LloydM. English (Eds.)Marcell Dekker, Inc.

1993, 304pp, $65

ISBN 0 824787 46 3

Financial matters are always aconcern to manufacturingengineers, especially in a time ofeconomic constraint. This hand-book is aimed at bridging thosesituations.

Unlike most books, this waswritten by several authors withexpertise from industrial situa-tions. It is not a panacea for allcosting exercises, but a studyingaid for a particular certificationcourse. However, those whomalready have a basic understand-ing but require an update on thesubject will find it useful.

A wide range of financialtechniques are explained withnumerous worked examples,which take the reader throughthe steps involved, although thevalues are in US dollars. Thepresentation of these and theother material makes the bookeasy to follow and the' subjectmatter is introduced in a logicalapproach.

In this third edition, a chapteris dedicated to computer applica-tions for project control, a mustnowadays. The content is some-what simple and has littleapplication. However, a compre-hensive appendix does cover theterminology and commonacronyms.

Overall, this is a useful bookfor manufacturing engineers. It isan easy way to keep abreast ofnew financial planning methodsin many associated areas. Thestyle should help anyone whofinds it hard to present costing ina format accepted by financialdirectors.

IANMCANDREW

58 MANUFACTURING ENGINEER APRIL 1993