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Toward a New Era in U.S. Manufacturing The Need for a National Vision (1986) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-4

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From page 1...
... · Changes in traditional management and labor practices, organizational structures, and decision-making criteria represent new sources of competitiveness and introduce new strategic op portunities. These trends are interrelated and their effects are already being felt by the U.S.
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From page 2...
... ~ade-offs between improving flexibility and responsiveness on the one hand and reducing costs on the other will continue; technologies that are poorly applied may not have the effects intended; and many barriers to their smooth operation remain. Effective implementation of new technology demands a clear definition of the business's strategy and a clear understanding of the role of advanced technologies in supporting that strategy.
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From page 3...
... Manufacturing wait need to be thought of as a system, with extensive integration, cooperation, and coordination between functions, to achieve competitive goals. Flatter organizational structures are likely to become the norm and traditional hierarchical relationships are likely to fade as the distinctions between managers and workers blur.
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From page 4...
... It is not possible to predict the specific strategies, technologies, management practices, and policies that will be effective in every situation. Instead, the Manufacturing Studies Board has described likely developments in the technology and human resource practices of future competitive manufacturers, as wed as likely repercussions for government policies.
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Key Terms

  • organizational structures
  • government policies
  • advanced manufacturing
  • foreign competitors
  • production processes

  • effective planning
  • fewer job
  • required organizational
  • speed changeovers
  • flatter organizational

  • repercussions government
  • corporate functions
  • achieve competitive
  • criteria represent
  • operation remain

  • effective efforts
  • smooth operation
  • organizational changes
  • provide fewer
  • board hopes

  • effects intended
  • manufacturing studies
  • process improvements
  • competitors producing
  • devise competitive

  • help managers
  • environment intensifies
  • cycles substantially
  • dramatic benefits
  • reducing costs


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