Learning to change : opportunities to improve the performance of smaller manufacturers / / Committee to Assess Barriers and Opportunities to Improve Manufacturing at Small and Medium-Sized Companies [and] Manufacturing Studies Board, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910970783303321
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Washington, D.C., : National Academy Press, 1993
• ISBN: 9786610195725; 9781280195723; 128019572X; 9780309586061; 0309586062; 9780585143156; 0585143153
• Edizione: [1st ed.]
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (152 p.)
• Disciplina: 338.47670973
• Soggetti: Small business - United States; Small business - Government policy - United States
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph
• Nota di bibliografia: Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-136).
• Nota di contenuto: LEARNING TO CHANGE -- Copyright -- Preface -- STUDY METHODOLOGY -- REPORT STRUCTURE -- Contents -- Executive Summary -- PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES FOR SMALLER MANUFACTURING COMPANIES -- Barrier 1: Disproportionate Impact of Regulation -- Barrier 2: Lack of Awareness -- Barrier 3: Isolation -- Barrier 4: Where to Seek Advice -- Barrier 5: Scarcity of Capital -- SOURCES OF ASSISTANCE -- EFFECTIVENESS OF MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY CENTERS -- CONCLUSIONS -- Majority Opinion -- Minority Opinion -- RECOMMENDATIONS -- SUMMARY -- 1 Introduction -- SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF U.S. MANUFACTURERS -- GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION OF MANUFACTURING -- DIVERSITY OF SMALLER MANUFACTURERS -- Product or Market Sector -- Modernization -- Company Maturity and Goals -- Worker ; Demographics -- Geographic Characteristics (Urban versus Rural) -- GLOBAL COMPETITION: CHALLENGES CONFRONTING AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS -- RESPONDING TO THE CHALLENGES -- A ROLE FOR INDUSTRIAL ASSISTANCE EFFORTS -- 2 Improving Manufacturing Performance in Smaller Firms -- BARRIER 1: DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF REGULATION -- The Barrier -- Opportunities for Resolution or Improvement -- BARRIER 2: LACK OF AWARENESS -- The Barrier -- Opportunities for Resolution or Improvement -- BARRIER 3: ISOLATION -- The Barrier -- Opportunities for Resolution or Improvement -- BARRIER 4: WHERE TO SEEK ADVICE -- The Barrier -- Opportunities for Resolution or Improvement -- BARRIER 5: SCARCITY OF CAPITAL -- The Barrier -- Opportunities for Resolution or Improvement -- IMPLICATIONS FOR MANUFACTURING ASSISTANCE -- 3 Improving Manufacturing: Sources of Assistance for Smaller Companies -- PRIVATE SECTOR ASSISTANCE -- Consultants -- Vendors and Suppliers of Technology -- Supplier Chains -- Professional and Trade Associations -- Books and Periodicals -- PUBLIC SECTOR ASSISTANCE -- State and Local Initiatives -- Universities.; Technical Schools, Community Colleges, Apprenticeship Programs -- Federal Programs -- Federal Laboratories -- Department of Defense -- Department of Commerce -- National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) -- Shared Manufacturing Facilities/Teaching Factories -- OTHER MODELS FOR COORDINATED MANUFACTURING ASSISTANCE -- Cooperative Extension Service -- Japanese Kohsetsushi Centers -- 4 Effectiveness of Manufacturing Technology Centers -- OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE MTCS -- CONCLUSIONS -- 5 Conclusions and Recommendations -- RECOMMENDATIONS -- CONCLUSIONS -- 6 Minority Opinion -- APPENDIXES -- A Manufacturing Establishments by Size and State -- B Selected State and Local Programs -- QUALITY MANAGEMENT CONSORTIA (QMC) -- GEORGIA TECH INDUSTRIAL EXTENSION SERVICE -- PENNSYLVANIA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (PENNTAP) -- C Federal Register Notice and Procedure for MTC Selection -- References -- Bibliography.