The Hidden Benefits Of Machine Tools - Association For Manufacturing Technology report - Brief Article

The Association For Manufacturing Technology--AMT (McLean, Virginia) has released a new study detailing the substantial, unmeasured economic benefits of machine tools and advanced manufacturing techniques. The study concludes that traditional measurements of productivity do not include all the products and industries that have been positively affected by machine tool technology. AMT estimates that these unmeasured contributions have averaged nearly $200 billion per year during the past 5 years.

The organization recommends government policies that will extend the environment of rapid innovation and high R&D investments that has led to the nation's recent resurgence in productivity. Among other policy positions, AMT recommends keeping interest rates stable, encouraging additional investment through corporate tax reductions, accelerating capital expense write-offs and permanently extending the R&D tax credit.