Process Improvement Guide, Second Edition: Quality tools for today’s Air Force [Paperback] Susan; Ballance Judy (Eds) Holmes

Description

1994 edition. Paperback cover has some minor wear along the sides, scuffs and bending. One corner has a slight bend in the book. Spine has some reading creases and wear. Pages are clean and the binding is secure.

This second edition of the “Process Improvement Guide” offers a fascinating glimpse into the United States Air Force’s efforts to enhance operational efficiency and quality management in the post-Cold War era. Published in 1994, just a few years after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, this book reflects the military’s transition from a decades-long focus on deterrence and preparedness for global conflict to a renewed emphasis on streamlining processes and optimizing resources.

Authored by Judy Holmes and Susan Ballance, both experienced quality professionals within the Air Force, this guide presents a comprehensive toolkit for implementing continuous process improvement methodologies. It covers a range of quality tools and techniques, from classic approaches like Lean and Six Sigma to more specialized methods tailored to the unique challenges faced by the military.

Beyond its practical utility, this book serves as a historical artifact, capturing the Air Force’s adaptation to the changing geopolitical landscape of the 1990s. As the world’s largest air force, the USAF’s embrace of process improvement principles had far-reaching implications for logistics, maintenance, and overall operational readiness. Collectors and readers with an interest in military history, organizational management, or the evolution of quality practices will find this well-preserved copy a valuable addition to their libraries.