Global economic growth is accelerating beyond its sluggish performance of the long post-Great Recession adjustment period.

In recent years, U.S. manufacturing growth has been virtually stagnant. Are things finally on the rebound? While the manufacturing picture is modestly improving, a range of issues and risks stand in the way of a return to full factory-sector health.

Globalization, along with rapid innovation in production technologies, has laid the foundation for the current period of accelerated disruption in U.S. manufacturing processes.