Encyclopedia of American Industries
Description of publication
If you are inclined to believe that an encyclopedia covering American industry is pretty big, you're right. Each of the two volumes is 1,625 pages long with lots of good information. Judging from the references cited at the end of each topic area (called "Industry Information Sources"), it is obvious that the contributors are using up-to-date data.
According to editors, the Encyclopedia of American Industries (EAI) is a major new business reference tool that provides detailed comprehensive information on a wide range of industries in every realm of American business. Volume 1 covers 460 manufacturing industries, each in its own essay. Manufacturing industries covered in this volume range from large ones, such as the automotive industry and the pharmaceutical industry, to smaller business sectors, such as the porcelain electrical supplies industry and the waterproof outerwear industry. Volume 2 presents 544 essays covering the vast array of service and other nonmanufacturing industries in America. Industries covered in this volume range from major economic entities, such as the airline industry and the insurance industry, to smaller sectors, such as bookstores and potato farms. Combined, these two volumes provide individual essays on every manufacturing, nonmanufacturing, and service industry in America represented by a four-digit Standard Industrial Classification code. Both volumes of the Encyclopedia are arranged numerically by SIC code for easy use.
The Encyclopedia of American Industries also includes hundreds of informative, easy-to-read graphs that detail a wide range of key economic and business information on the diverse industrial landscape of America.
The EAI also provides two major indexes to aid the user:
- General Index-contains alphabetical references to all companies, associations, key government agencies, and specific legislation cited in the encyclopedia.
- Industry Index-contains more than 19,000 alphabetical references to various types of business products and services currently offered in the United States.
Something to Think About
Most burial casket manufacturers employ 100 or fewer people. As of 1991, the top 30 manufacturers employed 17,700 people total and had combined sales of $1.7 billion. Which company is the largest manufacturer of burial caskets (SIC 3995) in the United States?
The Encyclopedia's business coverage includes information on historical events of consequence as well as relevant trends and statistics entering the mid-1990s. Sections of coverage in an EAI essay may include the following:
Industry Snapshot-provides an overview of the industry in the mid-1990s.
Organization and Structure-discusses the configuration and functional aspects of the industry.
Background and Development-relates the industry's genesis and historical development, including major technological advances, scandals, pioneering companies, major products, important legislation, and other factors that shaped the industry.
Current Conditions-provides information on the status of the industry in the mid-1990s, with an eye to industry challenges on the horizon.
Industry Leaders-details specific industry leaders, the companies that reign in such areas as sales, market share, volume of production, and new product development.
Work Force-contains information on size, diversity, and characteristics of the industry's work force.
America and the World-discusses the United States' place in the global marketplace in the industry, as well as trade issues and key international developments and competitors.
Research and Technology-furnishes information on major technological advances, areas of research, and their potential impact on the industry.
Industry Information Sources-provides users with suggested further reading on the industry. These sources, also used to compile the essays, are publicly accessible materials such as magazines, general and academic periodicals, books, annual reports, and government sources, as well as material supplied by industry associations.
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Database: DIALOG
Encyclopedia of American Industries
Two-volume publication
ESBN 0-7876-0102-0
For more information, call
Gale Research
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