If you know what CALS, PDES, or RAMP stands for, you will probably want to own this book. If you know what CE, TQM, or CIM stands for, you may want to check the book out of the library, but probably not buy it.

Although this work looks like a standard hardcover book, I feel that it was more like a consulting report than a text. For example, project managers and key people are mentioned by name and telephone number, which is great for readers who want to follow up on specific issues, but such information changes rapidly. Likewise, this book is expensive; $79.95 is inexpensive for a focused report, but a lot more than most texts cost.

The author’s viewpoint is simple. He believes that certain programs will enhance cooperation both within and among enterprises. He describes two distinct types of programs, namely three programs that are specific activities supported by government--largely Department of Defense (DoD)--contracts and three that are generic to any kind of enterprise.

The government programs are computer-aided acquisition and logistic support (CALS), supported primarily by the US Air Force; product design exchange specifications (PDES), supported primarily by the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and rapid acquisition of manufactured parts (RAMP), primarily a US Navy program. These programs are described in some detail, including background and history, current status (circa 1991), and projected costs and benefits.

The generic programs are concurrent engineering (CE), total quality management (TQM), and computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM). Each of these topics has already filled hundreds of texts, and the chapters devoted to them here add little insight. The topics are discussed primarily from a government, mostly military, perspective, and the chapters do provide a summary of key ideas in each subject area. In particular, many of the illustrations are good and applicable to most organizational applications.

Again, as befits a good consulting report, the book contains some useful case studies, which primarily show real-world applications of CALS, CE, and TQM. These studies can be used by organizations just approaching enterprise integration both to justify projects and to plan implementation strategies.

The author has provided several useful and necessary references: a complete list of abbreviations and acronyms, a glossary, a list of applicable standards and handbooks (mostly DoD-oriented), a bibliography (strangely, not organized by topic), and lists of products, services, and information resources (which are organized by topic). As mentioned above, the resources contain specific names and phone numbers.

If you know that you want to investigate these government programs, this book is a valuable resource. If you want good graphics to illustrate a CE, CIM, or TQM talk, you may find some here. This material is much too specific to be of use to people just exploring the general topic of enterprise integration or enterprise systems, however.