This book presents strategic perspectives on quality and flexibility, as well as quantitative tools for assessing their implementation in a range of systems. It introduces readers to the global changes in the relative importance of quality strategies and flexibility strategies over the past 30 to 40 years. In addition, it presents detailed examples of how multi-purpose techniques such as design of experiments, petri nets and quality function deployment can be applied to evaluate quality and flexibility in the design, planning and operation of various systems.

Uniquely, the book combines strategies and quantitative research tools in a single volume. It also includes many examples that are accessible to readers from different disciplines, and familiarizes readers with techniques that can facilitate their current and future research - making it a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners and advanced students alike.

Autorentext
Miryam Barad held academic visiting positions at many Universities around the world (The University of Science and Technology of China, Purdue University, State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton USA, University of New South Wales, Australia, Brunel University, UK). This enabled her to meet researchers from different parts of the world and work together on research and publications. Her research and professional interests focus on various aspects of Quality and Flexibility. Initial research on Quality Strategies and Quality Control expanded to include Flexibility modelling and evaluation in a variety of systems such as Manufacturing, Logistics and Information. Many of her published papers use multi-purpose techniques such as Design of Experiments (DOE), Petri Nets and Quality Function Deployment (QFD).

Inhalt
Part I.- Definitions of Strategy.- Quality Orientated Strategies.- Flexibility Orientated Strategies.- Part II.- Design of Experiments.- Petri Nets.- Quality Function Deployment.