From the preface: "The designer plays a key role in the development and rationalisation of the assembly process. If designs are not efficient from the point of view of assembly, improvements in the assembly process will have very limited results. This book is perceived as an introduction to the assembly process and the principles of design for efficient assembly, with an emphasis towards automation. The revised and extended edition is the result of collaboration between the original authors and Ken Swift, and arose out of the desire to include in the book important new material on assemblibility evaluation, computer-based design, design for flexability and CIM. These additions will enable the designer and manufacturing engineer to explore new possibilities for achieving product rationalisation and economic assembly and manufacture."