Industrial College of the Armed Forces: Industry Studies 2000: Advanced Manufacturing   [open pdf - 356KB]

Advanced manufacturing is the making of a better product suitable for more immediate use at a cheaper cost. It is a critical aspect of many industrial sectors and an essential component of U.S. national defense. Manufacturers must cope with rapid changes in markets--including workforce, process, and technology changes--while operating in a dynamic, competitive, and global environment. They deal with this environment by selectively focusing their resources and efforts to sustain competitive advantage. They also pursue partnerships for research and development, for workforce enhancements, and for supply and production functions that they cannot efficiently accomplish themselves. These relationships create dependencies that can impede defense mobilization, however. The government can play a meaningful role in dealing with potential mobilization shortfalls and other major challenges facing the nation's domestic manufacturing sector.