U.s. Manufacturing Federal Programs Reported Providing Support and Addressing Trends
U.s. Manufacturing Federal Programs Reported Providing Support and Addressing Trends

Author: U.s. Government Accountability Office

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2017-05-09

Total Pages: 146

ISBN-13: 9781546580034

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The U.S. manufacturing sector-representing about 12 percent of the economy and employing 12 million workers in 2015-has undergone changes over the last several decades. With increased productivity and technological innovation, the sector experienced a decreasing number of jobs and share of the economy. GAO was asked to examine how the federal government supports manufacturing. This report examines (1) how selected federal programs and tax expenditures provide support to U.S. manufacturing; (2) how programs are addressing manufacturing trends; and (3) the extent to which agencies measure performance and assess effectiveness in support of manufacturing generally, and advanced manufacturing specifically. GAO reviewed selected programs with a focus on manufacturing, among other criteria, and conducted a survey of these selected programs to collect data on their budget, activities, and effects. GAO also reviewed reports and interviewed agency officials and experts.

Learning to Change
Learning to Change

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1993-02-01

Total Pages: 153

ISBN-13: 0309049822

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Manufacturing firmsâ€"large and smallâ€"face massive change and adjustment as they move from a stable, fault-tolerant environment of long production runs to a volatile world in which production runs are short; product characteristics are changing constantly; and defect-free, on-time production at decreasing prices is a condition for survival. The necessary changes in the production organization include everything from the layout of the shop floor to the distribution of authority between managers and workers. The magnitude of these changes threatens to overwhelm the managerial capacities of firms, regardless of their size. This study examines the particularly vulnerable situation of small and mid-size manufacturers and considers ways in which to help them undertake the many changes and adjustments necessary. These include assimilating the new tools, disciplines, and philosophy of lean manufacturing; embracing new ways of delegating responsibilities; and developing new kinds of partnerships among customers, suppliers, and employees.

High Performance Manufacturing
High Performance Manufacturing

Author: Roger G. Schroeder

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2002-03-14

Total Pages: 321

ISBN-13: 0471008702

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The most thorough, valid set of findings on global manufacturing and winning practices worldwide This eye-opening resource sets a new standard for how manufacturing practices are viewed in today's business world. The results of an extensive research project spanning 164 factories in the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom determine the best path to high performance manufacturing. This is one of the first books to offer comparisons of manufacturing in these five countries, addressing their current issues and providing insights that affect manufacturing worldwide. Researchers from such universities as the London Business School, Wake Forest University, Yokohama University, and the University of Minnesota detail how manufacturing leaders are raising the bar on practices in product development, organizational alignment, quality management, and more. Covering the vital areas of machinery, electronics, and auto components, they examine the most effective methods and techniques across a host of functions within manufacturing-looking at how everything from new technology and information systems to human resource practices and manufacturing strategy should be introduced into a plant environment to achieve high performance manufacturing. Using data from companies such as Texas Instruments, Honda, Sony, Prince, John Deere, and Caterpillar, High Performance Manufacturing takes a comprehensive view by showing how to select and integrate the practices that best fit a plant's particular situation-the most critical and difficult task to achieve in practice. With its strong research base and high caliber of contributors, this unique volume will inspire managers of any country or industry to set their own path to high performance manufacturing.

Computer-Integrated Manufacturing Handbook
Computer-Integrated Manufacturing Handbook

Author: V.D. Hunt

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-06

Total Pages: 328

ISBN-13: 1461315778

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Manufacturing has entered the early stages of a revolutionary period caused by the convergence of three powerful trends: • The rapid advancement and spread of manufacturing capabilities worldwide has created intense competition on a global scale. • The emergence of advanced manufacturing technologies is dramati cally changing both the products and processes of modern manufac turing. • Changes in traditional management and labor practices, organiza tional structures, and decision-making criteria represent new sources of competitiveness and introduce new strategic opportunities. These trends are interrelated and their effects are already being felt by the u.s. manufacturing community. Future competitiveness for manu facturers worldwide will depend on their response to these trends. Based on the recent performance of u.s. manufacturers, efforts to respond to the challenges posed by new competition, technology, and managerial opportunities have been slow and inadequate. Domestic markets that were once secure have been assailed by a growing number of foreign competitors producing high quality goods at low prices. In a number of areas, such as employment, capacity utilization, research and development expenditures, and capital investment, trends in u.s. manufacturing over the last decade have been unfavorable or have not kept pace with major foreign competitors, such as Japan. There is substantial evidence that many u.s. manufacturers have neglected the manufacturing function, have overemphasized product development at the expense of process improvements, and have not begun to make the adjustments that will be necessary to be competitive.

The Competitive Edge
The Competitive Edge

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 1991-02-01

Total Pages: 185

ISBN-13: 0309047846

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

To maintain competitiveness in the emerging global economy, U.S. manufacturing must rise to new standards of product quality, responsiveness to customers, and process flexibility. This volume presents a concise and well-organized analysis of new research directions to achieve these goals. Five critical areas receive in-depth analysis of present practices, needed improvement, and research priorities: Advanced engineered materials that offer the prospect of better life-cycle performance and other gains. Equipment reliability and maintenance practices for better returns on capital investment. Rapid product realization techniques to speed delivery to the marketplace. Intelligent manufacturing control for improved reliability and greater precision. Building a workforce with the multidisciplinary skills needed for competitiveness. This sound and accessible analysis will be useful to manufacturing engineers and researchers, business executives, and economic and policy analysts.

Global Productivity
Global Productivity

Author: Alistair Dieppe

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2021-06-09

Total Pages: 552

ISBN-13: 1464816093

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The COVID-19 pandemic struck the global economy after a decade that featured a broad-based slowdown in productivity growth. Global Productivity: Trends, Drivers, and Policies presents the first comprehensive analysis of the evolution and drivers of productivity growth, examines the effects of COVID-19 on productivity, and discusses a wide range of policies needed to rekindle productivity growth. The book also provides a far-reaching data set of multiple measures of productivity for up to 164 advanced economies and emerging market and developing economies, and it introduces a new sectoral database of productivity. The World Bank has created an extraordinary book on productivity, covering a large group of countries and using a wide variety of data sources. There is an emphasis on emerging and developing economies, whereas the prior literature has concentrated on developed economies. The book seeks to understand growth patterns and quantify the role of (among other things) the reallocation of factors, technological change, and the impact of natural disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic. This book is must-reading for specialists in emerging economies but also provides deep insights for anyone interested in economic growth and productivity. Martin Neil Baily Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution Former Chair, U.S. President’s Council of Economic Advisers This is an important book at a critical time. As the book notes, global productivity growth had already been slowing prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and collapses with the pandemic. If we want an effective recovery, we have to understand what was driving these long-run trends. The book presents a novel global approach to examining the levels, growth rates, and drivers of productivity growth. For anyone wanting to understand or influence productivity growth, this is an essential read. Nicholas Bloom William D. Eberle Professor of Economics, Stanford University The COVID-19 pandemic hit a global economy that was already struggling with an adverse pre-existing condition—slow productivity growth. This extraordinarily valuable and timely book brings considerable new evidence that shows the broad-based, long-standing nature of the slowdown. It is comprehensive, with an exceptional focus on emerging market and developing economies. Importantly, it shows how severe disasters (of which COVID-19 is just the latest) typically harm productivity. There are no silver bullets, but the book suggests sensible strategies to improve growth prospects. John Fernald Schroders Chaired Professor of European Competitiveness and Reform and Professor of Economics, INSEAD