This title focuses on the operational and tactical issues related to the engineering and management of manufacturing operations in factories, and the immediate links to suppliers and customers. It provides rich detail on how operations can and should be designed and organized in a factory, and on the management of technology and people. Divided into four main parts, the book covers planning and design of factories, explaining how to establish the necessary infrastructure and technology for manufacturing, before moving on to planning and control, which includes transport, processing, and storage of materials and goods inside and outside the factory. The third part explains how managers organize, lead, and maintain the factory, while the final part examines innovation activities from problem-solving to strategic improvement programs.