Consulting company PWC (Price Waterhouse Coopers) (www.pwc.co.uk) has released its 2017 Aerospace Manufacturing Attractiveness Rankings, a qualitative framework that looks at key countries and US states to help give aerospace companies information that might improve their manufacturing supply chains, control costs and plan for future growth.

In this fourth edition, PWC has improved and refined the ranking methodology to provide a more meaningful comparison of both countries globally and states within the US for aerospace manufacturing.

This year’s rankings place the USA in first place, followed by Switzerland, the UK, Australia and Canada. New entrants to the top 10 include Australia, Taiwan and Denmark. Singapore, the Netherlands and France have dropped out of the top 10.

There were several significant changes to the US state rankings this year. Georgia took first place, Michigan second and Arizona third. North Carolina re-entered the top 10, in fourth place.

Meanwhile, Florida fell four places to sixth, while Virginia and New York entered the top 10 for the first time in four years.