The Competitive Edge: Research Priorities for U.S. Manufacturing

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 ...