US PRODUCTS ARE OFTEN BEST

Quality experts hold that United States manufacturers offer ``The Best'' in many areas - but not enough. Cars made by US automobile makers are not yet as trouble-free as Japanese cars, though the gap has greatly narrowed. Quality Japanese consumer electronic goods have driven many US firms out of that ``highly-visible'' business.

US-made products that are ranked No. 1 include agricultural equipment, cellular telephones and pagers, personal computers, computer workstations, major appliances, copiers, medical equipment, aircraft, Steinway pianos, and so on.