We recently carried out a  survey to understand the current business climate within our industry.  This was circulated to over 1600 companies and we are pleased to provide the results:-

 

1. HAS YOUR BUSINESS GROWN OVER THE LAST YEAR?

 

YES          100%

NO            0%

  

2. MAIN REASON FOR THIS GROWTH?

 

EXPORTS                                               6%

NEW PRODUCTS                                      41%

MARKET PENETRATION/ SALES GROWTH      53%

 

3. HAS EMPLOYMENT INCREASED?

 

YES          47%

NO           53%

 

4.  WHAT FEATURES DO YOU PRIZE IN YOUR SUB-CONTRACTORS?

 

GOOD COMMUNICATIONS                          74%

ON TIME DELIVERY                                  60%

FLEXIBILITY                                           53%

LOW PRICES                                           53%

MAINTAINING A STOCK HOLDING                40%

 

 

5.  HAS COMPONENT AVAILABILITY EFFECTED YOUR COMPANY?

 

YES                    87%

NO                     13%

 

 

6.  LOW COST MANUFACTURING:

 

MEETS MY NEEDS

     YES=11%      NO=47%       SOMETIMES=42%

 

IS UNCOMPETITIVE

     YES=35%      NO=0%         NOT SURE=65%

 

IS DIFFICULT TO MANAGE

     YES=83%      NO=0%         NOT SURE=17%       

 

7. DO YOU USE LOW COST MANUFACTURING?

 

YES                    33%

NO                     53%

PARTLY               14% 

 

8.  DO YOU SUB-CONTRACT DESIGN?

 

YES                    20%

NO                     47%

PARTLY               23%

 

9.  IN THE FUTURE DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE GROWTH?

 

YES                    87%

NO                     7%

STAND-STILL       6% 

 

10.  WILL COMPONENT AVAILABILITY BE AN ISSUE IN THE FUTURE?

 

YES DUE TO SUPPLY                          20%

YES DUE TO OBSOLESCENCE               33%

YES                                                40%

NO                                                  0%

NOT SURE                                        7%

 

 

11. WHAT FEATURES OF YOUR CEM WILL BE IMPORTANT IN THE FUTURE?

 

ON TIME DELIVERY                           80%

FLEXIBILITY                                    70%

GOOD COMMUNICATIONS                   53%

LOW PRICES                                    53%

INCREASED AGILITY                          40%

MAINTAINING STOCK                         33%

REDUCED MATERIAL COSTS                27%

  

12.  OUTSOURCING STRATEGY

 

DESIGN                       IN-HOUSE=83%       CONTRACT OUT=17%

PCB ASSM.                  IN-HOUSE=0%         CONTRACT OUT=100%

CHASSIS ASSM            IN-HOUSE=45%       CONTRACT OUT=55%

TESTING                     IN-HOUSE=67%       CONTRACT OUT=33%

FULL TURN-KEY            IN-HOUSE=31%       CONTRACT OUT=69%

 

13.  YOUR COMPANIES BIGGEST LIMITATION IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS?

 

MARKET/ SALES                      29%

UNKNOWN                              29%

SKILLS SHORTAGE                   21%

CAPACITY                              7%

STAFF SHORTAGES                  7%

CASH                                    7%

 

14.  IF YOU COULD FOCUS YOUR CEM IN ONE AREA WHAT WOULD IT BE?

 

AGILITY                                 46%

REDUCED MATERIAL COSTS       30%

ENGINEERING SUPPORT             8%

INCREASED CAPACITY               8%

MATERIAL SOURCING                7%