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.