Manufacturing Technology: Cornerstone of a Renewed Defense Industrial Base

Abstract

The U.S. defense industrial base is deteriorating. Long lead times to procure weapon systems, high costs, uncertain quality, and dependence on procurement of electronic components from other countries are symptoms of a decline in the capability of the U.S. defense industrial base. A primary cause of this decline is the failure of the Department of Defense (DOD) and its contractors in the U.S. defense industry to invest sufficiently in manufacturing technology. The lack of investment reflects DOD's history of concentrating its resources and attention on product technology rather than process technology. As we described in our initial report, The Role of the Department of Defense in Supporting Manufacturing Technology Development, existing procurement policies and regulations do not provide sufficient investment incentives to contractors. Therefore, direct funding for some manufacturing technology development will have to be provided by DOD.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA405764

Entities

Organizations

  • National Research Council

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accounting
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Assembly
  • Business Administration
  • Composite Materials
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer-Integrated Manufacturing
  • Contracts
  • Cost Reductions
  • Government Procurement
  • Governments
  • Manufacturing
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • National Governments
  • Systems Engineering
  • United States

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Economics

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics