A Novel Approach

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), Dearborn, Mich., has published a novel written by Gary Langenwalter entitled The Squeeze: A Novel Approach to Business Sustainability.

According to the trade group, “The Squeeze is a novel that relates the fight for survival of a small, family-owned, Midwest manufacturer” that turns to sustainability to keep the company alive.

“Barely breaking even, Brookings Manufacturing is feeling the squeeze,” an SME press release notes.  “Its new CEO, Adam Brookings, finds himself at a crossroads: sell the barely profitable business and leave the fate of his lifetime friends/co-workers to chance, move 200 manufacturing jobs overseas and substantially affect the local community, or try something new and quick! But what?”

Facing such a dilemma, Brookings turns to sustainability, defined as a discipline that “embraces the three Rs: respect, relationship, and responsibility. It is about . . . being committed to helping customers, suppliers, and employees grow and succeed.”

The novel portrays favorable results for Brookings when it “begins using the Triple Bottom Line,” and its “employees, customers, suppliers, and even its bank stand up and take notice.”

Among the endorsements for the books, Jim Warren, president and owner, Sunset Manufacturing Co., a CNC machine shop in Tualatin, Ore., writes, “Gary, you have a winner here. Your portrayal is a realistic business picture that everyone is facing today, as I could really relate and felt I was Adam.”

Those interested in obtaining the book The Squeeze can contact SME at (800) 733-4763 or through its Web site at www.sme.org/books.