For years US manufacturing has been losing jobs to overseas locations contributing to our massive negative trade balance. There are a number of factors contributing to this, such as lower wages in developing countries, more favorable overseas corporate tax rates, monetary differences between the US and overseas countries, and others.

It is the author's belief that a major cause is the non-competitiveness of US manufacturing work force practices. Recent Congressional hearings in conjunction with the bankruptcies of Chrysler and GM exposed the ridiculous non-competitive manufacturing practices of these companies. Further evidence of their lack of competitiveness is the number of overseas companies that are being successful in manufacturing in this country, using entirely different organization plans for their work forces.

This book, the Ultimate Force, presents a manufacturing plant organization plan that has proven timeless over a number of years, resulting in a plant that has been one of the safest industrial plants in the world, made major developments in the plant's technology, withstood a significant threat by new technology in the plant's basic business, has completely adapted to market changes and remained world competitive. The plan was so successful that it caused Exxon Chemical to change its siting strategy for all new major investments. Previously such investments were built in large refinery/chemical plant complexes using practices dictated by local unions at those sites. While not as outdated as those exposed by the automobile companies, they prohibited the major advances adopted by the Ultimate Force. This original plan, not only changed siting strategy, but also became the model organization plan for all new investments.

This book presents this plan. While originally employed in a very technical petrochemical plant, the author maintains that its principles, structures, employee practices, and management systems, with suitable adjustments for other industries, are applicable to all manufacturing plants. With the expected introduction of many new manufacturing plants in conjunction with the US energy revolution, this book presents a proven, globally competitive, organization plan that will ensure their world competitiveness. While its implementation is certainly easiest in a new plant, existing plants should compare their practices against it and employ aspects of the plan where feasible. The author offers the book for downloading without cost in hopes of transforming US manufacturing plant competitiveness and returning it to world supremacy.