In the typical organization, the procurement of maintenance, repair, operating and production supplies (MROP) represents only about 20% of the total spending for materials, but consumes about 80% of the time, effort and expense involved in the purchasing process. For many reasons, detailed in this book, very few organizations have properly analyzed and identified improvement potentials in MROP procurement beyond getting price quotes. The Author's experience with hundreds of entities over 50 years has demonstrated that cost savings in excess of 35% of MROP spending are obtainable without significant investment or risk. Applied to the estimated annual spend of $450 billion to $500 billion in the U.S. for MROP products, this equates to an astounding potential cost savings of $150 billion or more across the American economy. The 20% Solution shows in easy-to-absorb detail how to analyze, identify and obtain these savings within your organization. This book is written for those individuals responsible for indirect materials procurement in for-profit and non-profit entities, their suppliers, students and faculty of business and industrial technology and others seeking dramatic cost reduction opportunities in an often overlooked function.

Life is a Writing Prompt is a portable workbook for observational and contemplative writing inspirations, taken from the world around us and within us. Based on therapeutic creativity workshops conducted for wounded soldiers and community groups, this workbook provides photos and graphics that can be used as springboards to creative responses, writing, art, music and discussion.

In the typical organization, the procurement of maintenance, repair, operating and production supplies (MROP) represents only about 20% of the total spending for materials, but consumes about 80% of the time, effort and expense involved in the purchasing process. For many reasons, detailed in this book, very few organizations have properly analyzed and identified improvement potentials in MROP procurement beyond getting price quotes. The Author's experience with hundreds of entities over 50 years has demonstrated that cost savings in excess of 35% of MROP spending are obtainable without significant investment or risk. Applied to the estimated annual spend of $450 billion to $500 billion in the U.S. for MROP products, this equates to an astounding potential cost savings of $150 billion or more across the American economy. The 20% Solution shows in easy-to-absorb detail how to analyze, identify and obtain these savings within your organization. This book is written for those individuals responsible for indirect materials procurement in for-profit and non-profit entities, their suppliers, students and faculty of business and industrial technology and others seeking dramatic cost reduction opportunities in an often overlooked function.

In his enlightening discussion of one of the most important topics in Jewish thought today, Prof. Roth presents and analyzes the primary Talmudic and rabbinic sources relating to the legal and extralegal factors that go into the process of halakhic decision-making. He leads the reader through the entire process, step by step. The concepts of Biblical versus rabinnic legislation, the role of precedent and custom, extra legal factors (science, technology, medicine, sociology, economics, ethics and psychology) the scope of rabbinic authority, the qualifications for halakhic decision-making authority-all these are taken up and placed in context of the question of legitimacy and illegitimacy, authenticity and in authenticity. All the pressing and controversial questions of our time-women's rights and obligations: the ordination of women, their inclusion into a minyan, prenuptial agreements regarding divorce, the abolition of the second day of the festivals-are bound up with the issues discussed in this book. Anyone concerned with these and similar matters will gain a far broader and deeper appreciation for the real issues involved.