Reading is an excellent way to learn more about your future profession and to understand job market trends. With that in mind, we've prepared a list of 7 books for Production Engineering students that will inspire you. Check it out!

1. Ford – Richard Snow

Without a doubt, Henry Ford's story is intertwined with the history of Production Engineering. Started in 1913, the Ford assembly line revolutionized the way automobiles were produced and established a standard for production processes that became universal.

In Faculty of Production Engineering, In this book, you will learn about the early days of the Ford automaker and its importance to the industry. In Richard Snow's book "Ford," you can discover how it all began and learn about the journey of Henry Ford, a farmer with mechanical skills who was able to conceive one of the greatest technological innovations of the industrial age. 

This biography is an excellent reading recommendation for Production Engineering students, as it shows how the creations of the American entrepreneur influenced the industry and market as we know it today. It's worth checking out!

2. The Toyota Production System – Taiichi Ohno

Mechanical engineer Taiichi Ohno created the Toyota Production System, which aims to improve quality, reduce costs, and achieve the shortest lead time in the production process. In 1988, Ohno wrote the book "The Toyota Production System" to share his experiences and innovations. According to Time magazine, this is one of the 25 most influential books on business management.  

It's worth highlighting that Toyota is a major reference in industrial processes. For this reason, there are numerous publications about the organization. If you enjoy "The Toyota Production System," you can also read "The Toyota Way" by Jeffrey K. Liker and "The Toyota Product Development System" by James Morgan.

3. Lean for Dummies – Bruce Williams and Natalie J. Sayer

Lean management philosophy originated from the concepts of the Toyota Production System and has become popular worldwide. In "Lean for Dummies," Bruce Williams and Natalie J. Sayer discuss a range of tools, advice, and information on applying Lean within an organization. 

This book serves as a practical guide for anyone wishing to engage companies in Lean transformation. Through simple language, you'll understand how this system helps eliminate waste and optimize resource effectiveness. It's an excellent reading recommendation, especially for Production Engineering students who are beginning to learn about this field.

4. Gemba Kaizen: A Common Sense Approach to Improvement Strategy – Masaaki Imai

Masaaki Imai is a Japanese management consultant known for his work in quality management. In his book "Gemba Kaizen: A Common Sense Approach to Improvement Strategy," the founder of Kaizen Institute It shows how to implement improvements in the most critical business processes. 

The book presents several case studies in which Gemba Kaizen was used to transform processes and change organizational cultures worldwide. Without a doubt, it's a book that will greatly enrich your knowledge. 

5. Statistics: What it is, what it's for, how it works – Charles Wheelan

As we've already explained here on the blog, the Production Engineering program includes some... subjects that involve numbers, ...like Statistics, Algebra, and Calculus. That's why "Statistics: What it is, what it's for, how it works" is on the list of recommended books for future engineers. After all, this important science is everywhere and has great utility for industry. 

Through simple and straightforward language, economist Charles Wheelan makes statistics more accessible, presenting important concepts such as inference, correlation, and data analysis. It is certainly a recommended book for professionals in all fields, especially Production Engineering.

6. The Science of the Factory – Wallace J. Hopp and Mark L. Spearman

We couldn't leave "The Science of the Factory" off our list of books for Production Engineering students. After all, this work offers a very enjoyable and objective read about the nature of production systems. 

The book is full of examples that help to better understand the principles of production systems from a broad and scientific perspective. It's definitely worth adding to your reading list!

7. Quality Management: Concepts and Techniques – Luiz Cesar Ribeiro Carpinetti

Quality management aims to improve efficiency and reduce the costs of production operations. Therefore, it should always be on the radar of engineers. The book "Quality Management: Concepts and Techniques" is quite comprehensive and addresses the topic in 11 chapters, which are divided into three parts: 

• evolution of quality management and quality system;
• Techniques for quality management in production operations;
• QFD, FMEA, and Six Sigma methods. 

It's worth remembering that Quality Management is one of the subjects in a Production Engineering degree. Therefore, this book is ideal for future engineers who want to prepare for the challenges of the course and the profession. 

Did you enjoy our book suggestions for Production Engineering students? If you also have a reading recommendation, leave it in our comments section! Take the opportunity to learn more about the course... Production Engineering at ESEG.