ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) -- A gathering at the University of Michigan is examining how to turn the tide in the shrinking American manufacturing sector.
The National Academy of Engineering meeting takes place Thursday on the school's Ann Arbor campus. It's expected to attract more than 130 engineers who are developing recommendations and includes a public symposium.
Engineers will look at how to make manufacturing systems more responsive to consumer needs, environmentally-sustainable and cost-competitive. The group is expected to release a report in the fall.
Organizers say the decline of U.S. manufacturing threatens the country's competitiveness and national security. They say there are markets for American-made products and the nation needs to increase its exports.
