This e-book is primary based on papers presented at the Second International Conference on Manufacturing Research ICMR2004 incorporating the Twentieth National Conference on Manufacturing Research NCMR2004. The conference was hosted by School of Engineering, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK, on 7-9 September 2004. Authors from 12 different countries have contributed over 100 papers covering the latest applied research in industry, which was one of the main aims of the conference. The accepted articles cover a broad range of contributions include technology roadmapping (Gindy, Cerit and Hodgson), six sigma strategy (Thomas and Barton), reconfiguration of Manufacturing systems (Anosike and Zhang), risk evaluation of manufacturing systems (Burduk and Chlebus), lean implementation within SMEs (Achanga, Shehab, Roy and Nelder), translating knowledge of supply chain into business strategy (Koh and Tan), modelling strategy for managed inventory (White and Censlive).time to market prediction (Baguley, Page, Koliza and Maropoulos) and optimisation of PCB industry (Saad, Khalil, Perera, Basarab-Howrth and Fowks).