Wow, weird timing... I picked up a copy of The Goal at a used bookstore last week, and randomly picked it up and started reading it on Thursday, and finished it sometime late Friday night... and now I hear that the author just died.

I'm not involved in manufacturing, but I enjoyed The Goal considerably and thought that some of the ideas (at least in a very general sense) contained in it could be applicable in many fields... perhaps even software development. I'll be looking forward to reading some of his other titles.

Anyway, R.I.P. Mr. Goldratt.