Nearly three out of four leaders within the manufacturing industry have either expanded their product or service offerings in the past year, or plan to expand them in the coming year, according to a survey conducted by Travelers.
The survey of 200 professionals in the manufacturing industry including general managers, directors, owners and partners from metals, food and plastics manufacturers. It confirms recent data stating that 2012 was a record year for manufacturing revenues, and reinforces the view from the Institute for Supply Management that expectations for 2013 are positive.
The results also revealed that finding and hiring qualified employees was a prominent issue for manufacturers. In the past year, 88% of surveyed decision-makers in manufacturing either hired new employees or made plans to hire in the next year.
The survey also reveals that 71% of companies are conducting sales outside of the United States and that 67% receive a quarter or more of their supplies from a single supplier. “If a manufacturer is relying on a small number of suppliers, and those suppliers are faced with a temporary situation where they are unable to provide the materials – the manufacturer can suffer a significant decline in revenues,” Mandes added.
Mandes concluded, “As new risks emerge for manufacturers, insurers like Travelers believe that the new landscape requires a more evolved view of global businesses. That’s why we provide not only domestic coverage, but global options that are tailored to fit each manufacturer’s need.”
