Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences

Download Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1461573912
Total Pages : 386 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (615 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences by : Wade H. Shafer

Download or read book Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences written by Wade H. Shafer and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences was first conceived, published, and disseminated by the Center for Information and Numerical Data Analysis and Synthesis (CINDAS) * at Purdue University in 1957, starting its coverage of theses with the academic year 1955. Beginning with Volume 13, the printing and dissemination phases of the activity were transferred to University Microfilms/Xerox of Ann Arbor, Michigan, with the thougtit that such an arrangement would be more beneficial to the academic and general scientific and technical community. After five years of this joint undertaking we had concluded that it was in the interest of all con cerned if the printing and distribution of the volumes were handled by an interna tional publishing house to assure improved service and broader dissemination. Hence, starting with Volume 18, Masters Theses in the Pure and Applied Sciences has been disseminated on a worldwide basis by Plenum Publishing Cor poration of New York, and in the same year the coverage was broadened to include Canadian universities. All back issues can also be ordered from Plenum. We have reported in Volume 31 (thesis year 1986) a total of 11 ,480 theses titles trom 24 Canadian and 182 United States universities. We are sure that this broader base tor these titles reported will greatly enhance the value ot this important annual reterence work. While Volume 31 reports theses submitted in 1986, on occasion, certain univer sities do re port theses submitted in previousyears but not reported at the time.

Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma

Download Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1849960003
Total Pages : 573 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (499 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma by : Theodore T. Allen

Download or read book Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma written by Theodore T. Allen and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2010-04-23 with total page 573 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lean production, has long been regarded as critical to business success in many industries. Over the last ten years, instruction in six sigma has been increasingly linked with learning about the elements of lean production. Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma builds on the success of its first edition (Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Six Sigma) to reflect the growing importance of the "lean sigma" hybrid. As well as providing detailed definitions and case studies of all six sigma methods, Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma forms one of few sources on the relationship between operations research techniques and lean sigma. Readers will be given the information necessary to determine which sigma methods to apply in which situation, and to predict why and when a particular method may not be effective. Methods covered include: • control charts and advanced control charts, • failure mode and effects analysis, • Taguchi methods, • gauge R&R, and • genetic algorithms. The second edition also greatly expands the discussion of Design For Six Sigma (DFSS), which is critical for many organizations that seek to deliver desirable products that work first time. It incorporates recently emerging formulations of DFSS from industry leaders and offers more introductory material on the design of experiments, and on two level and full factorial experiments, to help improve student intuition-building and retention. The emphasis on lean production, combined with recent methods relating to Design for Six Sigma (DFSS), makes Introduction to Engineering Statistics and Lean Sigma a practical, up-to-date resource for advanced students, educators, and practitioners.

Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis

Download Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 1439815739
Total Pages : 508 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (398 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis by : Bryan R. Fischer

Download or read book Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis written by Bryan R. Fischer and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2011-04-26 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Use Tolerance Analysis Techniques to Avoid Design, Quality, and Manufacturing Problems Before They Happen Often overlooked and misunderstood, tolerance analysis is a critical part of improving products and their design processes. Because all manufactured products are subject to variation, it is crucial that designers predict and understand how thes

Journal of Mechanical Design

Download Journal of Mechanical Design PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 712 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Journal of Mechanical Design by :

Download or read book Journal of Mechanical Design written by and published by . This book was released on 2008-07 with total page 712 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Tolerance Design

Download Tolerance Design PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Prentice Hall
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 456 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Tolerance Design by : Clyde M. Creveling

Download or read book Tolerance Design written by Clyde M. Creveling and published by Prentice Hall. This book was released on 1997 with total page 456 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tolerance Design recognizes this development process as the responsibility of the entire team and provides practical solutions that each team member can readily apply. The step-by-step details of analytical and experimental tolerance development methods are clearly explained, and as a result, you will be able to develop tolerances more economically. The book is presented in four sections: Introductory topics to position the tolerance development process, Traditional Analytical and Computer-Aided Tolerance Development, Taguchis Approach to Experimental Methods of Tolerance Development, as well as several actual industrial case studies illustrating the books concepts. This book includes a major emphasis for Tolerance Design using Taguchis Quality Loss Function in harmony with Motorolas famous methods for Six Sigma quality. The blend of practical examples with substantive case studies provides a comprehensive process approach to tolerance development. Any company interested in properly developing tolerances for their manufacturing, assembly, or service communities will find this text to be a thorough and effective training resource and reference handbook. Students of design and engine

Engineering Design Optimization

Download Engineering Design Optimization PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 110898861X
Total Pages : 653 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (89 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Engineering Design Optimization by : Joaquim R. R. A. Martins

Download or read book Engineering Design Optimization written by Joaquim R. R. A. Martins and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2021-11-18 with total page 653 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Based on course-tested material, this rigorous yet accessible graduate textbook covers both fundamental and advanced optimization theory and algorithms. It covers a wide range of numerical methods and topics, including both gradient-based and gradient-free algorithms, multidisciplinary design optimization, and uncertainty, with instruction on how to determine which algorithm should be used for a given application. It also provides an overview of models and how to prepare them for use with numerical optimization, including derivative computation. Over 400 high-quality visualizations and numerous examples facilitate understanding of the theory, and practical tips address common issues encountered in practical engineering design optimization and how to address them. Numerous end-of-chapter homework problems, progressing in difficulty, help put knowledge into practice. Accompanied online by a solutions manual for instructors and source code for problems, this is ideal for a one- or two-semester graduate course on optimization in aerospace, civil, mechanical, electrical, and chemical engineering departments.

Advanced Tolerancing Techniques

Download Advanced Tolerancing Techniques PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
ISBN 13 : 9780471145943
Total Pages : 616 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (459 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Advanced Tolerancing Techniques by : Hong-Chao Zhang

Download or read book Advanced Tolerancing Techniques written by Hong-Chao Zhang and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 1997-09-30 with total page 616 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first book to provide a comprehensive coverage of new developments in geometric dimensional tolerancing and statistical tolerancing, and to focus on the use of these techniques in a CAD/CAM/CMM environment. The authors explore and explain tolerancing from its history and fundamentals to state-of-the-art techniques. They also describe specialized applications of tolerancing in particular industries, inclduing automobiles, electronics and aerospace.

Research in Tolerancing

Download Research in Tolerancing PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3031642252
Total Pages : 280 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (316 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Research in Tolerancing by : Sandro Wartzack

Download or read book Research in Tolerancing written by Sandro Wartzack and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Geometric Design Tolerancing: Theories, Standards and Applications

Download Geometric Design Tolerancing: Theories, Standards and Applications PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 1461557976
Total Pages : 468 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (615 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Geometric Design Tolerancing: Theories, Standards and Applications by : Hoda A. ElMaraghy

Download or read book Geometric Design Tolerancing: Theories, Standards and Applications written by Hoda A. ElMaraghy and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 468 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The importance of proper geometric dimensioning and tolerancing as a means of expressing the designer's functional intent and controlling the inevitable geometric and dimensional variations of mechanical parts and assemblies, is becoming well recognized. The research efforts and innovations in the field of tolerancing design, the development of supporting tools, techniques and algorithms, and the significant advances in computing software and hardware all have contributed to its recognition as a viable area of serious scholarly contributions. The field of tolerancing design is successfully making the transition to maturity where deeper insights and sound theories are being developed to offer explanations, and reliable implementations are introduced to provide solutions. Machine designers realized very early that manufacturing processes do not produce the nominal dimensions of designed parts. The notion of associating a lower and an upper limit, referred to as tolerances, with each dimen sion was introduced. Tolerances were specified to ensure the proper function of mating features. Fits of mating features included clearances, location fits, and interference fits, with various sub-grades in each category assigned a tolerance value depending on the nominal size of the mating features. During the inspection process, a part is rejected if a dimension fell outside the specified range. As the accuracy requirements in assemblies became tighter, designers had to consider other critical dimensions and allocate tolerances to them in order to ensure the assembly's functionality.

Simulation-Driven Design Optimization and Modeling for Microwave Engineering

Download Simulation-Driven Design Optimization and Modeling for Microwave Engineering PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : World Scientific
ISBN 13 : 1848169175
Total Pages : 526 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (481 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Simulation-Driven Design Optimization and Modeling for Microwave Engineering by : Slawomir Koziel

Download or read book Simulation-Driven Design Optimization and Modeling for Microwave Engineering written by Slawomir Koziel and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2013 with total page 526 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On the other hand, various interactions between microwave devices and their environment, such as feeding structures and housing, must be taken into account, and this is only possible through full-wave EM analysis. Electromagnetic simulations can be highly accurate, but they tend to be computationally expensive. Therefore, practical design optimization methods have to be computationally efficient, so that the number of CPU-intensive high-fidelity EM simulations is reduced as much as possible during the design process. For the same reasons, techniques for creating fast yet accurate models of microwave structures become crucially important. In this edited book, the authors strive to review the state-of-the-art simulation-driven microwave design optimization and modeling. A group of international experts specialized in various aspects of microwave computer-aided design summarize and review a wide range of the latest developments and real-world applications.

Advances in Design Automation, 1990: Computer aided and computational design

Download Advances in Design Automation, 1990: Computer aided and computational design PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 360 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (91 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Advances in Design Automation, 1990: Computer aided and computational design by : Bahram Ravani

Download or read book Advances in Design Automation, 1990: Computer aided and computational design written by Bahram Ravani and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Manufacturing Optimization through Intelligent Techniques

Download Manufacturing Optimization through Intelligent Techniques PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 9780824726799
Total Pages : 256 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (267 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Manufacturing Optimization through Intelligent Techniques by : Rajendran Saravanan

Download or read book Manufacturing Optimization through Intelligent Techniques written by Rajendran Saravanan and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2006-02-27 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Effective utilization of equipment is critical to any manufacturing operation, especially with today's sophisticated, high-cost equipment and increased global competition. To meet these challenges in the manufacturing industry, you must understand and implement the myriad conventional and intelligent techniques for different types of manufacturing problems. Manufacturing Optimization Through Intelligent Techniques covers design of machine elements, integrated product development, machining tolerance allocation, selection of operating parameters for CNC machine tools, scheduling, part family formation, selection of robot coordinates, robot trajectory planning and both conventional and intelligent techniques, providing the tools to design and implement a suitable optimization technique. The author explores how to model optimization problems, select suitable techniques, develop the optimization algorithm and software, and implement the program. The book delineates five new techniques using examples taken from the literature for optimization problems in design, tolerance allocation; selection of machining parameters, integrated product development, scheduling, concurrent formation of machine groups and part families, selection of robot co-ordinates, robot trajectory planning and intelligent machining. All the manufacturing functions described have been successfully solved by Genetic Algorithm. Other intelligent techniques have been implemented only for solving certain types of problems: simulated annealing; design and scheduling, particle swarm optimization and ant colony optimization; tolerance allocation and tabu search; as well as machining parameters optimization. After reading this book, you will understand the different types of manufacturing optimization problems as well as the conventional and intelligent techniques suitable for solving them. You will also be able to develop and implement effective optimization procedures and algorithms for a wide variety of problems in design manufacturing.

Computer-aided Tolerancing

Download Computer-aided Tolerancing PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9400915292
Total Pages : 339 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (9 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Computer-aided Tolerancing by : Fumihiko Kimura

Download or read book Computer-aided Tolerancing written by Fumihiko Kimura and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Theory and practice of tolerances are very important for designing and manufacturing engineering artifacts on a rational basis. Tolerance specifies a degree of "discrepancy" between an idealized object and its physical realization. Such discrepancy inevitably comes into our product realization processes because of practical cost consideration or our inability to fully control manufacturing processes. Major product and production characteristics which are affected by tolerances are product quality and cost. For achieving high precision machines tight tolerance specification is necessary, but this will normally increase product cost. In order to optimally compromise the conflicting requirements of quality and cost, it is essential to take into account of the total product life cycle throughout product planning, design, manufacturing, maintenance and recycling. For example, in order to construct durable products under severe working conditions, low sensitivity of product functionality with respect to tolerances is required. In future, re-use of components or parts will become important, and tolerance synthesis with respect to this aspect will be an interesting future research topics.

Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis, Second Edition

Download Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis, Second Edition PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : CRC Press
ISBN 13 : 1439863253
Total Pages : 510 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (398 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis, Second Edition by : Bryan R. Fischer

Download or read book Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis, Second Edition written by Bryan R. Fischer and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2011 with total page 510 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Use Tolerance Analysis Techniques to Avoid Design, Quality, and Manufacturing Problems Before They Happen Often overlooked and misunderstood, tolerance analysis is a critical part of improving products and their design processes. Because all manufactured products are subject to variation, it is crucial that designers predict and understand how these changes can affect form, fit, and function of parts and assemblies—and then communicate their findings effectively. Written by one of the developers of ASME Y14.5 and other geometric dimension and tolerancing (GD&T) standards, Mechanical Tolerance Stackup and Analysis, Second Edition offers an overview of techniques used to assess and convey the cumulative effects of variation on the geometric relationship between part and assembly features. The book focuses on some key components: it explains often misunderstood sources of variation and how they contribute to this deviation in assembled products, as well as how to model that variation in a useful manner. New to the Second Edition: Explores ISO and ASME GD&T standards—including their similarities and differences Covers new concepts and content found in ASME Y14.5-2009 standard Introduces six-sigma quality and tolerance analysis concepts Revamps figures throughout The book includes step-by-step procedures for solving tolerance analysis problems on products defined with traditional plus/minus tolerancing and GD&T. This helps readers understand potential variations, set up the problem, achieve the desired solution, and clearly communicate the results. With added application examples and features, this comprehensive volume will help design engineers enhance product development and safety, ensuring that parts and assemblies carry out their intended functions. It will also help manufacturing, inspection, assembly, and service personnel troubleshoot designs, verify that in-process steps meet objectives, and find ways to improve performance and reduce costs.

Control and Dynamic Systems V59: Computer-Aided Design/Engineering (Cad/Cae) Techniques And Their Applications Part 2 of 2

Download Control and Dynamic Systems V59: Computer-Aided Design/Engineering (Cad/Cae) Techniques And Their Applications Part 2 of 2 PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Academic Press
ISBN 13 : 0323162622
Total Pages : 345 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (231 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Control and Dynamic Systems V59: Computer-Aided Design/Engineering (Cad/Cae) Techniques And Their Applications Part 2 of 2 by : C.T. Leonides

Download or read book Control and Dynamic Systems V59: Computer-Aided Design/Engineering (Cad/Cae) Techniques And Their Applications Part 2 of 2 written by C.T. Leonides and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2012-12-02 with total page 345 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Control and Dynamic Systems, Volume 59: Computer-Aided Design/Engineering (CAD/CAE) Techniques and Their Applications Part 2 of 2 is the second of a two-volume sequence that manifests the significance and the power of CAD/CAE techniques that are available and their further development for the essential role they play in the design of modern engineering systems. The volume contains 10 chapters and begins with an in-depth treatment of the essential integration that must exist between design and manufacturing systems. This is followed by separate chapters on object-oriented programming (OOP) and graphical user interface (GUI); technologies that support the CAD/CAE design process, in particular, by means of the PC and the workstation; and the role of a geometrically associative analysis modeler in the design optimization process. Subsequent chapters deal with finite analysis modeling for the integration of CAD/CAE technology and finite element method; the mechanical analysis of two large structures: the world's largest telescope the 8m ESO-VLT and a 3-D nuclear power plant heat exchanger; and techniques for CAD for electromagnetic systems and components. The final chapters cover aircraft structural design; techniques for determining the adequacy of the number of grids (i.e., grid quality control) in computational fluid dynamics (CFD); and techniques or the optimum design of control systems using system model variables and parameters. The contributions to this volume will provide a significant and, perhaps, unique reference source for students, research workers, practicing engineers, and others on the international scene for many years.

Tolerance Design Of Electronic Circuits

Download Tolerance Design Of Electronic Circuits PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : World Scientific
ISBN 13 : 178326263X
Total Pages : 234 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (832 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Tolerance Design Of Electronic Circuits by : Robert E Spence

Download or read book Tolerance Design Of Electronic Circuits written by Robert E Spence and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 1997-03-27 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Tolerance design techniques are playing an increasingly important role in maximizing the manufacturing yield of mass-produced electronic circuits. Tolerance Design of Electronic Circuits presents an account of design and analysis methods used to minimize the unwanted effects of component tolerances.Highlights of the book include• An overview of the concepts of Tolerance Analysis and Design• A detailed discussion of the Statistical Exploration Approach to tolerance design• An engineering discussion of the Monte Carlo statistical method• A presentation of several successful examples of the application of tolerance designThis book will be highly appropriate for professional Electronic Circuit Designers, Computer Aided Design Specialists, Electronic Engineering undergraduates and graduates taking courses in Advanced Electronic Circuit Design.

Design of Flexible Production Systems

Download Design of Flexible Production Systems PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 3540854142
Total Pages : 308 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (48 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Design of Flexible Production Systems by : Tullio Tolio

Download or read book Design of Flexible Production Systems written by Tullio Tolio and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2008-12-11 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the last decade, the production of mechanical components to be assembled in final products produced in high volumes (e.g. cars, mopeds, industrial vehicles, etc.) has undergone deep changes due to the overall modifications in the way companies compete. Companies must consider competitive factors such as short lead times, tight product tolerances, frequent market changes and cost reduction. Anyway, companies often have to define production objectives as trade-offs among these critical factors since it can be difficult to improve all of them. Even if system flexibility is often considered a fundamental requirement for firms, it is not always a desirable characteristic of a system because it requires relevant investment cost which can jeopardize the profitability of the firm. Dedicated systems are not able to adapt to changes of the product characteristics while flexible systems offer more flexibility than what is needed, thus increasing investment and operative costs. Production contexts characterized by mid to high demand volume of well identified families of products in continuous evolution do not require the highest level of flexibility; therefore, manufacturing system flexibility must be rationalized and it is necessary to find out the best trade-off between productivity and flexibility by designing manufacturing systems endowed with the right level of flexibility required by the production problem. This new class of production systems can be named Focused Flexibility Manufacturing Systems-FFMSs. The flexibility degree in FFMSs is related to their ability to cope with volume, mix and technological changes, and it must take into account both present and future changes. The required level of system flexibility impacts on the architecture of the system and the explicit design of flexibility often leads to hybrid systems, i.e. automated integrated systems in which parts can be processed by both general purpose and dedicated machines. This is a key issue of FFMSs and results from the matching of flexibility and productivity that respectively characterize FMSs and Dedicated Manufacturing Systems (DMSs). The market share of the EU in the machine tool sector is 44%; the introduction of focused flexibility would be particularly important for machine tool builders whose competitive advantage is based on the ability of customizing their systems on the basis of needs of their customers. In fact, even if current production contexts frequently present situations which would fit well with the FFMS approach, tradition and know-how of machine tool builders play a crucial role. Firms often agree with the focused flexibility vision, nevertheless they decide not to pay the risk and efforts related to the design of this new system architecture. This is due also to the lack of well-structured design approaches which can help machine tool builders to configure innovative systems. Therefore, the FFMS topic is studied through the book chapters following a shared mission: "To define methodologies and tools to design production systems with a minimum level of flexibility needed to face, during their lifecycle, the product and process evolution both in the technological and demand aspects. The goal is to find out the optimal trade-off between flexibility and productivity". The book framework follows the architecture which has been developed to address the FFMS Design problem. This architecture is both broad and detailed, since it pays attention to all the relevant levels in a firm hierarchy which are involved in the system design. Moreover, the architecture is innovative because it models both the point of view of the machine tool builder and the point of view of the system user. The architecture starts analyzing Manufacturing Strategy issues and generating the possible demand scenario to be faced. Technological aspects play a key role while solving process plan problems for the products in the part family. Strategic and technological data becomes input when a machine tool builder performs system configuration. The resulting system configurations are possible solutions that a system user considers when planning its system capacity. All the steps of the architecture are deeply studied, developing methods and tools to address each subproblem. Particular attention is paid to the methodologies adopted to face the different subproblems: mathematical programming, stochastic programming, simulation techniques and inverse kinematics have been used. The whole architecture provides a general approach to implement the right degree of flexibility and it allows to study how different aspects and decisions taken in a firm impact on each other. The work presented in the book is innovative because it gives links among different research fields, such as Manufacturing Strategy, Process Plan, System Design, Capacity Planning and Performance Evaluation; moreover, it helps to formalize and rationalize a critical area such as manufacturing system flexibility. The addressed problem is relevant at an academic level but, also, at an industrial level. A great deal of industrial sectors need to address the problem of designing systems with the right degree of flexibility; for instance, automotive, white goods, electrical and electronic goods industries, etc. Attention to industrial issues is confirmed by empirical studies and real case analyses which are presented within the book chapters.