Book Description

This excellent report was released in October 2018. America's manufacturing and defense industrial base ("the industrial base") supports economic prosperity and global competitiveness, and arms the military with capabilities to defend the nation. Currently, the industrial base faces an unprecedented set of challenges: sequestration and uncertainty of government spending; the decline of critical markets and suppliers; unintended consequences of U.S. Government acquisition behavior; aggressive industrial policies of competitor nations; and the loss of vital skills in the domestic workforce. Combined, these challenges - or macro forces - erode the capabilities of the manufacturing and defense industrial base and threaten the Department of Defense's (DoD) ability to be ready for the "fight tonight," and to retool for great power competition. The following report explains the macro forces impacting the industrial base, identifies primary categories of risk, illustrates impacts within sectors, and provides recommendations for mitigation.I. Executive Summary * II. Introduction * III. Methodology * IV. An Overview of America's Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base * V. Five Macro Forces Driving Risk into America's Industrial Base * VI. Ten Risk Archetypes Threatening America's Manufacturing and Defense Industrial Base * VII. A Blueprint for Action * Appendix One: Executive Order 13806 * Appendix Two: Sector Summaries * Appendix Three: Contributing U.S. Government Agencies * Appendix Four: U.S. Government Sources * Appendix Five: Industry Listening Sessions * Appendix Six: Agreements with Foreign GovernmentsTo provide for our national security, America's manufacturing and defense industrial base must be secure, robust, resilient, and ready. To ensure taxpayer dollars are frugally and wisely spent, the defense industrial base must be cost-effective, cost-efficient, highly productive, and not unduly subsidized. In the event of contingencies, the industrial base must possess sufficient surge capabilities. Above all, America's manufacturing and defense industrial base must support economic prosperity, be globally competitive, and have the capabilities and capacity to rapidly innovate and arm our military with the lethality and dominance necessary to prevail in any conflict.All facets of the manufacturing and defense industrial base are currently under threat, at a time when strategic competitors and revisionist powers appear to be growing in strength and capability.