At Skilled Specialties, Inc., production line employees often work side by side with their robotic counterparts. This practice is also common among many of Skilled Specialties' other American competitors. The resurgence of U. S. manufacturing firms in recent years can be credited to:

A) the government's willingness to implement policies designed to protect U. S. firms from low-cost foreign competition.
B) a decision by many U. S. manufacturers to drastically reduce costs by making more extensive use of mass-production techniques.
C) a number of significant changes in production techniques.
D) a relaxation of government laws that has allowed manufacturing firms to merge more easily, thus achieving stronger market positions.