Manufacturers Build Consensus Around Strategy to Revitalize U.S.- based Manufacturing; New Report Released April 5

4/5/2004

From: LeeSa Page of NACFAM, 202-429-2220 or pagel@nacfam.org; Bob Gardner of AMT, 703-827-5275 or rgardner@amtonline.org

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April 5 -- At a Minnesota Manufacturing Summit today, Leo Reddy, the CEO of the National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM), released a report of great significance for the current Presidential debate over the future of American manufacturing. The report represents a broad consensus among manufacturing organizations, assembled at a March 1 conference in Washington by NACFAM and AMT -- The Association for Manufacturing Technology.

Entitled Industry Views Towards a Comprehensive Strategy to Address the Challenges to U.S. Manufacturers, this report concludes that a manufacturing resurgence in the U.S. requires a broad policy framework encompassing tax policy, energy infrastructure investment, overhead reduction (e.g., in health care, regulatory, legal costs), technology and innovation, workforce education, and trade policy. The report calls upon Commerce Secretary Evans to take a strong personal lead in implementing these recommendations at the federal level.

In commenting on this NACFAM-AMT report release, Reddy concludes,

"If the strategy defined in this report is strongly led and implemented, it will:

-- make the U.S. a first-tier choice for manufacturing investment;

-- help U.S.-based manufacturers gain back market share at home and abroad; and thus

-- improve the retention of manufacturing and manufacturing- related jobs, especially for higher-skilled workers."

For copies of the report, contact NACFAM at 202-429-2220 ext. 103. More information is also available at http://www.nacfam.org .

The National Coalition for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM) is an industry-led, non-profit education, research and services organization committed to enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of U.S.-based manufacturing. More information about NACFAM can be found at http://www.nacfam.org .

AMT (founded in 1902 as the National Machine Tool Builders' Association) supports and promotes the U.S. machine tool industry. The association provides U.S. builders of manufacturing systems with the latest information on technical developments, training methods, trade and marketing opportunities, and economic issues. It also gathers and disseminates information about world markets, promotes its' members' products in those markets, and acts as a representative on manufacturing technology matters to governments and trade organizations throughout the world. Additional information is at http://www.AMTonline.org .