Book Description

The performance of the U.S. machine tool industry has a major impact on the efficiency, effectiveness, and timely production of defense materiel, despite its relatively small share of the national economy. To provide for the national security, the Department of Defense (DOD) manufactures and procures a wide variety of articles, which depend in turn on a wide variety of manufacturing processes. To carry out this mission effectively, DOD needs not only materials but continuing access to the latest process technology to cut and shape those materials into required components. In addition, the DOD mission needs expandable capacity to manufacture both finished articles and spare parts during mobilization and extended military conflict. Recent, trends, including a sharp surge in machine tool imports as a percentage of domestic consumption, have called into question the ability of the domestic machine tool industry to meet current needs for defense production under both peace and wartime conditions. The Department of Defense requested the formation of this Committee to assess the international competitiveness of the domestic machine tool industry, study its current and expected responsiveness to defense needs, and recommend actions and policies for DOD and others to ensure access to a sufficient machine tool capacity and capability. (kr).