The Facts About Modern Manufacturing gives a snapshot of the state of U.S. manufacturing, and exhibits its strengths and challenges. The findings demonstrate that manufacturing continues to play a vital role in the U.S. economy. However, the future of manufacturing is not without its challenges.

The handbook was produced in partnership by The Manufacturing Institute, the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI and the U.S. Department of Commerce. It points out several major cost drivers that are hurting U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, investment and job creation, including:

* U.S. Does Not Keep Pace with Falling Corporate Tax Rates

* High Health Care Costs Hamstring Competitiveness

* Regulatory Compliance Costs are Large and Growing

* Energy is Critical to the Industrial Sector

The United States has the largest manufacturing economy in the world, producing $1.6 trillion in goods annually. America's global market share of manufacturing has held steady at around 22 percent for 30 years. “Rising costs, however, are hampering our manufacturers' competitiveness in a global, interconnected marketplace,” says Emily Stover DeRocco, president, The Manufacturing Institute. “Non-production costs add almost 18 percent to U.S. manufacturers' costs relative to our major trading partners.” To learn more, visit www.nam.org.