制造业企业面临着一系列挑战和困境，并受制于动态的经济、技术和政治力量。下一代制造业（NGM）行动框架概述了企业要想在未来蓬勃发展必须掌握的战略。这些策略包括人；知识过程；系统、单元流程和技术；以及企业整合。实施这些战略将需要一套协调的投资。卡普兰/诺顿平衡计分卡（Kaplan/Norton Balanced Scorecard，适用于下一代制造业）为这些投资的优先顺序提供了指南。

Manufacturing companies are facing a set of challenges and dilemmas, and are subject to dynamic economic, technological, and political forces. The Next Generation Manufacturing (NGM) Framework for Action outlines the strategies companies must master if they are to thrive in the future. These strategies encompass people; knowledge processes; systems, unit processes, and technology; and enterprise integration. Implementing the strategies will require a coordinated set of investments the Kaplan/Norton Balanced Scorecard, adapted for Next Generation Manufacturing, provides a guide for prioritization of these investments.