"Quality Up, Costs Down: A Manager's Guide to Taguchi Methods and QFD",
edited by William E. Eureka and Nancy E. Ryan, co-published by American
Supplier Institute (15041 S. Commerce Dr, Dearborn, MI 48120-99111) and IRWIN
Professional Publishing (1333 Burr Ridge Parkway Burr Ridge, IL 60521) 1995,
223 pp, $25 (list)
 
A Book Review by Norman C. Frank, PE, CQE, CQA
CER Corporation, Washington, DC
 
"Quality Up, Costs Down" is actually the second edition of a previous book,
"Taguchi Methods and QFD: How's and Why's for Management", 1988.  The book
consists of a collection of essays.  Much of the material is new, but three
Chapters have been repeated from the previous edition.  Two selections are
excerpts from other books.  The remaining material comes from symposia and
conferences on Taguchi methods and QFD and is reprinted with permission.
 
Only one-fourth of the book is dedicated to Taguchi methods.  The remaining
154 pages are dedicated to QFD.  No details of use are provided by the book. 
It provides an overview on the use of Taguchi methods and QFD through a
series of papers presented by various people.  The primary examples of
application are from the automotive industry.  Some material is from the late
1980's, but is still appropriate because the content is geared toward an
overview.
 
One chapter includes a brief discussion of the change process.  The book
takes issue with the sacred maxim that all change must start at the top.
 
     "Almost all of the literature on QFD and Total Quality Management (TQM)
     says that it must start at the top or it won't work.  In most cases, if
     you wait for it to start at the top, you will be waiting for a long
     time.  In practice, change has to start where there is passion and there
     are people willing to drive for change."
 
This book would be useful to managers and others who want to know the basics
of Taguchi methods and QFD.
 
----------------
Mr. Frank has over 25 years experience in the field of quality, in the areas
of nuclear quality assurance, research and development, and consulting.  He
is currently in Washington, D.C., with CER Corporation out of Las Vegas,
Nevada.