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Industrial noise control handbook Paul N Cheremisinoff and Peter P Cheremisinoff Production control is a function often delegated Ann Arbor Science Publishers Inc at too low a level in a company. For any pro1977, 357 pages, 237 illustrations, 7 page duction control system to be effective, the basic glossary, price I9-<S() principles must be understood by top management who must be involved in defining approAs indicated in the foreword, this book has been priate strategies for the company. The gains published for the benefit of engineers with from developing good production control industrial noise problems. The emphasis is on systems can be far greater than the cost of the practical solution of noise problems rather installing and maintaining them. For example, than the theoretical analysis of designs and the the amount of money invested by companies in resulting specification of suitable noise insula- stocks and work-in-progress is often phenomention before commissioning. ally and unnecessarily high, and is accompanied Whilst there is a good general description of by no real understanding of how the company the mechanism of the ear and the effects of came to be in such a position. noise, there is a scrupulous avoidance of any This book is therefore intended for managemedical or physiological terms. There is also a comprehensive exposition of the American ment, both inside and outside the production OSHA legislation which in the absence of our function, to give them a basic understanding of own noise legislation, but pending the imposi- how the production control function works and tion of our own 'Code of practice for reducing what it can achieve. It also describes some of the exposure of employed persons to noise', is the techniques used, and would provide a basic textbook for management students. of particular interest. There have been many developments in the A chapter on 'Engineering controls and systems design", provides a useful general guide past 10 years in this area, and this book is in the matter of specification of plant, instal- therefore a complete revision of Mr Corke's lations and buildings. The engineering controls previous book, published in 1969 and entitled considered include maintenance, substitution 'Production control is management'. It covers of machines, substitution of processes, vibration production control for the three main types of damping and isolation, isolation of the operator manufacturingflow, batch and jobbing production but, inevitably in a book this length, it and design of systems. tends to concentrate on batch production. The matter of personal hearing protection is The book is divided into two sections. The dealt with by a description of most devices commonly available, with indications of first, entitled 'Production control as part of variations in efficiency due to the manner of wearing. Due emphasis is given to the importance of education of both management and employees, with the need to explain the personal environmental noise problem to the worker. There is a clear statement of the Basic electrical engineering and instrumentation importance of audio-metric examinations to for engineers detect any threshold of hearing shift and there E C Bell and R W Whitehead is particular emphasis on the importance of the Crosby Lock Staples foreman in all aspects of personal hearing 1977, 487 pages, price 495 (paperback) protection. There are eight chapters devoted to the noise This book covers the basic electrical and reduction of various systems with materials electronic engineering required in civil, chemsuch as lead, glass, acoustic foams, flexible ical and mechanical engineering courses and pads, mounts and springs. The systems discus- will be valuable in the earlier years of diploma sed as sources of noise where attenuation has courses in electrical engineering. The early chapters present the fundamental been achieved are gears, jet engine and stationary aircraft silencing systems, fluid systems and laws of electricity and magnetism, the basic associated valve noise and ventilating systems. circuit theorems, and the techniques used in the All systems of importance to any works engineer seeking to quieten his factory. This work does not fully achieve its objective in providing practical solutions to noise problems. The reader is left with many unanswered questions due to a lack of theoretical treat- The energy managers' handbook ment which would have made the subject more Gordon A Payne explicable. The authors seem to be glossing over IPC Science and Technology Press and avoiding the real technicalities of an 1977, 147 pages, 68 illustrations, price 4-75 admittedly highly technical subject to make (paperback) their writing of practical use and failing in their objective. This failing in conjunction with This handbook is for managers, engineers and relation to the United States safety legislation others responsible for the management and and sound absorption materials not commonly conservation of energy in industry. It covers the available in this country is likely to limit the main aspects of energy use from boilers and furnaces to air compressors and space heating. appeal of this work. R H Capp Sections are devoted to the role of management
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