The health of American manufacturing has been a cause of real concern during the 1980s. Foreign competition, hostile takeovers, new technologies and a host of other factors have caused dramatic changes in this key sector of the American economy. Many ob­ servers of this process of change are singing the "rust belt blues, " consigning U.S. manufacturing greatness to the history books. In April 1986, the Center for the Study of American Business at Washington University issued a study by its director, Dr. Murray L. Weidenbaum, which challenged this perception of American manu­ facturing's future. The report, entitled Learning to Compete, pointed to a variety of positive developments resulting from the ad­ versity faced by American firms in the first half of the decade: pro­ ducers had improved quality and productivity, reduced costs, and in­ creased emphasis on R&D., In November 1988, as a logical extension of this research, the Center held a conference on American Manufacturing in the 1990s. Focusing on American responses to the changing global competitive environment, this conference brought together the practical experi­ ence of business professionals and the more detached views of aca­ demic and media experts. In a day and a half of meetings, encompassing six separate ses­ sions, a luncheon address and an after-dinner debate, conference participants assembled an extensive profile on the state of U.S.