<P>The industrial revolution, mechanization, water and steam power, computers, and automation have given an enormous boost to manufacturing productivity. <B><I>"Faster, Better, Cheaper" in the History of Manufacturing</B></I> shows how the ability to make products faster, better, and cheaper has evolved from the stone age to modern times. It explains how different developments over time have raised efficiency and allowed the production of more and better products with less effort and materials, and hence faster, better, and cheaper. In addition, it describes the stories of inventors, entrepreneurs, and industrialists and looks at the intersection between technology, society, machines, materials, management, and - most of all - humans. </P><P></P><B><I><P>"Faster, Better, Cheaper" in the History of Manufacturing </B></I>follows this development throughout the ages. This book covers not only the technical aspects (mechanization, power sources, new materials, interchangeable parts, electr