Saving American Manufacturing: The Fight for Jobs, Opportunity, and National Security (Economics Collection)

Manufacturing is a vital sector of a modern economy and is crucial for national defense and security. Since 1990, however, the U.S. has lost one in every three manufacturing jobs. In 1990, U.S. employment in manufacturing was 17,695,000. By 2011, the number of Americans employed in manufacturing had dropped to 11,734,000 - - a stunning loss of roughly 6 million jobs, a 34% drop in manufacturing employment. The decline of the U.S. manufacturing industry has been severe and the impacts devastating to countless American families and communities. Many cities are filled with vacant and abandoned factories and are plagued with high unemployment. Because of the vast job losses, and concerns regarding economic viability and national security, manufacturing is now a major topic of discussion. Rebuilding American Manufacturing presents and reviews why manufacturing matters. The book discusses the important contributions made by manufacturing to a vibrant economy, including the payment of good wages, driving innovation, creating exports and positive contributions to trade balance, and supporting national defense and security. Moreover, the book presents arguments that the loss of manufacturing is not inevitable and is not primarily the result of productivity gains nor of high wages. Analysis of the establishment data including the number of employees shows that, over time, somewhat surprisingly, the vast majority of factory closings were the larger plants with the greatest number of employees. This was true for most industries - the largest factories and plants were the ones most likely to close. This fact has major implications for business strategy and government policy because many companies are now considering reshoring manufacturing from abroad back to the U.S. If successful, this trend will help lower the unemployment rate and strengthen the economy In his new book, Bill Killingsworth documents the decline of economic and intellectual wealth caused by the loss of U.S. Manufacturing. His thought provoking analysis of this empirical data leads us back to the answers to save ourselves and generations to come. —Rick Jarman, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Center for Manufacturing Sciences Exceptional book—timely and insightful. His analysis is spot on, examples persuasive, and recommendations worth consideration at the highest level. A call to action we cannot ignore. —James Rogers, Major General (Retired), U.S. Army Drawing on his extensive experience, thorough research and obvious sense of responsibility, Dr. Killingsworth provides a comprehensive and provocative case for the importance of American manufacturing. This timely work should be required reading for anyone engaged with forming or leading economic policy. —Ralph L. Resnick, President and Executive Director, NCDMM, Founding Director, America Makes Dr. Killingsworth presents clear arguments as to why manufacturing is essential to the United States, and how our nation can capture, benefit, and drive the future of the world economy via embracing global concepts of manufacturing and taking the lead on innovating its future. —Thomas R. Kurfess, PhD, PE, Professor and HUSCO/Ramirez Distinguished Chair in Fluid Power and Motion Control, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology Dr. Killingsworth paints one of the most definitive pictures of what has been happening over the last several years in the U.S. manufacturing sector. His statistical analysis and compelling anecdotal evidence contribute invaluable insights for scholars and policymakers alike. This is a must-read in Washington and around the country. —Neal Orringer, Vice President, Alliances and Partnerships, 3DSYSTEMS

In his new book, Bill Killingsworth documents the decline of economicand intellectual wealth caused by the loss of U.S. Manufacturing.His thought provoking analysis of this empirical dataleads us back to the answers to save ourselves and generationsto come. —Rick Jarman, President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer, National Center for Manufacturing SciencesExceptional book—timely and insightful. His analysis is spot on, examples persuasive, and recommendations worth considerationat the highest level. A call to action we cannot ignore. —JamesRogers, Major General (Retired), U.S. ArmyDrawing on his extensive experience, thorough research and obvioussense of responsibility, Dr. Killingsworth provides a comprehensiveand provocative case for the importance of Americanmanufacturing. This timely work should be required readingfor anyone engaged with forming or leading economic policy.—Ralph L. Resnick, President and Executive Director, NCDMM, Founding Director, America MakesDr. Killingsworth presents clear arguments as to why manufacturingis essential to the United States, and how our nation cancapture, benefit, and drive the future of the world economy viaembracing global concepts of manufacturing and taking the leadon innovating its future. —Thomas R. Kurfess, PhD, PE, Professorand HUSCO/Ramirez Distinguished Chair in FluidPower and Motion Control, George W. Woodruff School ofMechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of TechnologyDr. Killingsworth paints one of the most definitive pictures of whathas been happening over the last several years in the U.S. manufacturingsector. His statistical analysis and compelling anecdotalevidence contribute invaluable insights for scholars and policymakersalike. This is a must-read in Washington and around thecountry. —Neal Orringer, Vice President, Alliances and Partnerships, 3DSYSTEMS

Business Expert Press Economics Collection Cover 1 Contents 8 Chapter 1: Background 22 Chapter 2: Historical Job Losses in Manufacturing 28 Chapter 3: Loss of Establishments 58 Chapter 4: Observations on Employment and the Number of Establishments 78 Chapter 5: Manufacturing Plant Closings by Size 88 Chapter 6: Industrial Productionand Industry Output 156 Chapter 7: Imports and Balance of Payments 202 Chapter 8: Findings, a History of Warnings, and Corrective Policy Actions 234 Epilogue 280 About the Author 284 References 286 Index 294 Ad Page 300 Cover 302 balance of trade,currency intervention,currency manipulation,imports,income inequality,industrial production,job loss,manufacturing,manufacturing establishments,NAFTA,productivity,unemployment,value of shipments,World Trade Organization Content: 1. Background -- 2. Historical job losses in manufacturing -- 3. Loss of establishments -- 4. Observations on employment and the number of establishments -- 5. Manufacturing plant closings by size -- 6. Industrial production and industry output -- 7. Imports and balance of payments -- 8. Findings, a history of warnings, and corrective policy actions -- Epilogue -- About the author -- References -- Index. Discusses the important contributions made by manufacturing to a vibrant economy, including the payment of good wages, driving innovation, creating exports and positive contributions to trade balance, and supporting national defense and security. The book also presents arguments that the loss of manufacturing is not inevitable.