Journal of Manufacturing Systems
Vol. 16/No. 1
Ill I I
Mechatronics Engineering
Donald Tomkinson and James Horne, authors
© 1995 McGraw-Hill, 201 pp., $49.00
Although the word mechatronics was coined by the
Japanese nearly 20 years ago, it has only recently become
generally recognized in the West, and even now it is
accepted more by academics than by industry. The book
under review has bypassed the continuing argument over
what the word means by adopting the definition used by
the European Economic Community: Mechatronics is the
synergistic combination of precision mechanical engi-
neering, electronic control and systems thinking in the
design of products and manufacturing processes.
Whereas most textbooks on the subject offer a compendi-
um of technical knowledge with the emphasis lying in
whichever area most interests the authors, this book is
refreshingly different because it takes as its target the for-
mulation of a disciplined methodology for developing
products in which several disciplines interact. The greater
part of the book is therefore taken up with the philosophy
of how to design, manufacture, and market multidiscipli-
nary products, accepting that most engineering graduates
have been educated in a single discipline and find it dif-
ficult to communicate with other engineers. The authors
have rightly mentioned other "trendy" management prac-
tices, in particular concurrent engineering and total qual-
ity management, and suggested how mechatronics can
integrate with both of these.
Chapters 2 and 3 discuss the relationships between the
various business drivers--those factors and issues which
determine the success of an enterprise--and how the
market success of a product is largely dependent on the
manufacturing processes used. The authors argue in both
cases that the introduction of mechatronics can provide
the most economic solution. Chapter 4 proposes a com-
pany management structure which will derive maximum
advantage from a mechatronics approach, pointing out
the importance of interdepartmental communication at all
levels and the need to ensure that company hierarchies
and departmental interactions are tailored to suit the mul-
tidisciplinary approach, and warning how company poli-
tics can sometimes conspire to defeat the introduction of
mechatronics. Recognizing that "the typical student
trained by universities is ill-equipped to tackle mecha-
tronics problems ... and the lack of a trained engineering
labor source is an ominous problem for industry," the
authors devote considerable attention to the problem of
69
1997
BOOK REVIEW
I I I I
mechatronics education, not only within Chapter 5 but in
comments and references throughout the book. Arguing
against current academic thinking, at least in Europe, the
authors propose how mechatronics can be incorporated
successfully into undergraduate programs, as opposed to
restricting the subject to graduate students. The book also
provides guidelines on how to structure mechatronics
courses, but this reviewer fears that the premature intro-
duction of mechatronics into the early years of under-
graduate programs is likely to displace much of the in-
depth exposure and study which should form a vital com-
ponent of every engineering degree course.
Chapters 6 and 7 describe a range of software-based
tools which can assist a company intending to adopt a
mechatronics approach, together with a simple "primer"
suggesting how a typical mechatronic process might be
implemented. While both chapters make useful reading
for students, it is likely that most companies attempting
to develop along the proposed lines would wish to adapt
the authors' guidelines to their own needs. There is a dan-
ger that these chapters will be dismissed by industrial
readers as unduly condescending or patronizing, but this
would be a pity because they contain much sound advice,
even if a company's final application differs in detail.
After a short wrap-up chapter, the book concludes with
appendices giving lists of universities worldwide offering
mechatronics programs, vendors of mechatronics hard-
ware and software, and a glossary of mechatronics termi-
nology. While these appendices are intended to provide a
working knowledge of current mechatronics jargon and
practice, it should be borne in mind that in a rapidly
developing subject field the technology can soon become
outdated.
This well-referenced book should be required reading
for executives of all engineering companies which do not
already use a multidisciplinary "mechatronics" approach.
They might not agree with all the assertions made, nor
concur with all the conclusions, but it will provide them
with much food for thought and discussion, and the
implementation of even a few of the ideas put forward
could ensure their companies' survival into the 21 st cen-
tury. The book should also provide useful reading for
engineering faculty whose graduates will be competing
with those from countries which have embraced mecha-
tronics with far more enthusiasm than have either the U.S.
or Europe. Although the authors mention some of the
problems which can result from the half-hearted or insuf-
ficiently thought-through application of mechatronics,
Journal ofManufacturingSystems
Vol. 16/No. 1
1997
book review
they could be criticized for viewing the advantages of
their subject through unduly rose-tinted eyeglasses.
Nevertheless, the book makes a good case for companies
to consider seriously whether their operation might bene-
fit from mechatronics, and the enthusiastic authors have
BOOKS RECEIVED
Achieving Quality Software, 3rd ed.
David J. Smith, author
© 1995 Chapman & Hall, 285 pp., $69.95
Cellular Manufacturing Systems: Design,
planning and control
Nanua Singh and Divakar Rajamani, authors
© 1996 Chapman & Hall, x + 277 pp., $78.00
Concurrent Engineering Fundamentals, Vol. II:
Integrated Product Development
Biren Prasad, author
© 1997 Prentice-Hall, xxxvi + 490 pp., $60.00
Energy Analysis of 108 Industrial Processes
Harry L. Brown, Bernard B. Hamel, and
Bruce A. Hedman, authors
© 1996 The Fairmont Press, Inc., 314 pp.
Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Pierre Ladet and Francois Vernadat, editors
© 1995 Chapman & Hall, vi + 300 pp., $101.25
ISO 14000 Guide: The New International Environmental
Management Standards
Joseph Cascio, Gayle Woodside, and
Philip Mitchell, authors
© 1996 McGraw-Hill, 221 pp., $39.95
70
presented sufficient evidence to make a positive answer
appear to be the only viable conclusion.
Jack Dinsdale
University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
Just-in-Time Manufacturing:An introduction, 2nd ed.
T.C.E. Cheng and S. Podolsky, authors
© 1996 Chapman & Hall, xv + 249 pp., $44.95
Manufacturing Management: Principles and concepts
P. Gibson, G. Greenhalgh, and R. Kerr, authors
© 1995 Chapman & Hall, vii + 323 pp., $42.95
Practical Guide to Experimental Design
Normand L. Frigon and David Mathews, authors
© 1997 John Wiley & Sons, x + 342 pp., $59.95
Standard Handbook of Consulting Engineering Practice,
2nd ed.
Tyler G. Hicks and Jerome E Mueller, authors
© 1996 McGraw-Hill, xvi + 646 pp., $74.95
The Management of Technology: Perception
and opportunities
Paul Lowe, author
© 1995 Chapman & Hall, xvi + 358 pp., $64.50
Virtual Prototyping: Virtual environments and the
product design process
Joachim R_ix, Stefan Haas, and Jos~ Teixeira, editors
© 1995 Chapman & Hall, xi + 348 pp., $91.00