Citation
(2006), "Manufacturing works", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 55 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm.2006.07955fab.002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Manufacturing works
In the USA, productivity increases in manufacturing (which accounts for about 13 per cent of business sector employment) continue to outstrip those in other non-farm industries. These increases have been running at about 4 per cent for some months, 1 per cent above the general productivity gain – itself quite impressive.
This reflects the longer-term trend. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that from 1987 to 2004, 85 of the 86 manufacturing industries studied registered productivity gains. Output increased in 69 of the industries, and hours declined in 70 of them.
This continuing productivity improvement has lasted longer than many experts predicted – but it show no signs of stopping.