A great deal of progress has been made in the development of materials, their application to structures, and their adaptation to a variety of systems and integrated across a wide range of industrial applications. This encyclopedia serves the rapidly expanding demand for information on technological developments. In addition to providing information

One-stop source provides a current and historical overview of American industries An unparalleled source that provides a comprehensive look at American industries, Encyclopedia of American Industries chronicles the history, development and status of approximately 1,000 industries in the United States. Distinguishing itself from other business reference titles, Encyclopedia of American Industries is unique in its exhaustive coverage of American industry and in its special attention to industrial history. Also separating the Encyclopedia from competing sources is its consistent and easy-to-use encyclopedic format. The two-volume collection of articles are written with the accuracy and depth necessary for the professional, but at a level understandable to the novice and will be useful to a wide audience, including business-people, students, teachers, librarians, job seekers and investors. Essays, ranging in length from 500 to 5,000 words, provide a straight-forward examination of each industry. Here's a sample of some of the industry areas covered in EAI -- Manufacturing -- Transportation -- Entertainment -- Wholesale and retail trade -- Agriculture -- Construction -- Communications -- Finance -- And many others Individual entries typically contain: -- Size and impact of industry -- Industry organization and workings -- Historical development -- Current status of the industry -- Leading companies within the industry -- Size and nature of the workforce -- International outlook -- Technological and legal developments -- Bibliography In addition to including charts and graphs, which supplement the text with specific industryinformation, the Encyclopedia also includes two indexes. The industry index provides users with a comprehensive roster of products and services and the SIC classifications under which they are categorized. And, to help users quickly and easily pinpoint key information, the general index provides citations to companies, associations, key government agencies and legislative acts (e.g. the North American Free Trade Agreement) that are discussed within the essays.