"Winning with Quality: Applying Quality Principles in Product Development",
by John W. Wesner, et al, published by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company (One
Jacob Way, Reading, MA 01867), 1994, 293 pp
 
A Book Review by Norman C. Frank, PE, CQE, CQA
CER Corporation, Washington, DC
 
"Winning with Quality" is the first book in a new series being published by
Addison-Wesley.  The series, "Engineering Process Improvement Series",
addresses the process to bring high-quality products to market quickly and
cost effectively.  This book is about shortening product development
intervals and improving product quality while at the same time lowering
costs.  The book is intended for companies that develop/design their own
products for manufacture.  Stressed is cooporation among all the different
"functions" and disciplines that have a contribution to make to the final
product.
 
Part I is simply an introduction and a simple assessment for you to determine
where you are in the quality process and where you might want to go.  The
meat of the book is in Part II, "Quality Concepts, Principles, Methods, and
Tools".  Part II begins with the concepts of a vision, customer focus,
metrics, management commitment and leadership, and reward structure.  The
need for each is discussed in some detail, but much of the "how to" is left
to other authors.  The book includes the method of charting and examining
processes using both high-level (major steps) and low-level (detail steps)
analysis.  Processes are documented using process checklists and "quality
gates".  Quality gates are very similar to hold points, check points, design
reviews, etc. where specific content or requirements must be met before the
process is allowed to continue.  Discussed in detail are process re-
engineering, some of the tools of quality with examples of solving problems,
concurrent engineering, the role of teams and how they function, and setting
goals.  These chapters are all illustrated by examples from real life,
showing good applications and what can happen if the application is applied
improperly.  The discouragement of management non-support after they have
said they would support the efforts of the teams is shown by an actual
example where a team's suggestion was dismissed out of hand by management.
 
Part III, "Deploying Quality Programs and Practice", provides good guidance
and some detail for establishing a quality program and the practices
developed by following the previous chapters.
 
Part IV, "Learning from Your Experience", covers rewards and recognitions for
everybodies' efforts.  This chapter gives an overview of the value, form, and
presentation of awards to recognize the efforts of people and teams.
 
Overall the book presents some good information for people involved in
product design and development.  This book could stand alone in providing the
information needed by such organizations.
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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.