What is in this article?:
- How Manufacturers Will Fight Parts Shortages in 2013
- Suppliers’ competitors part of Plan B
- Manufacturers: Communicate on potential risks
- Quality Parts are Key
Of the respondents to ASQ’s 2013 Manufacturing Outlook Survey who anticipate a problem with a supplier, 42.1 percent say they are working with partners on process improvements to mitigate volume capacity, while more than 26 percent are working with their suppliers’ competitors. Other manufacturers said they are stockpiling parts in advance of the issue and expanding facilities to make necessary parts themselves.
More than 1,250 manufacturing professionals from around the world responded to ASQ’s 2013 Manufacturing Outlook Survey, which was conducted online in November during World Quality Month, an annual, worldwide celebration of quality and its impact in the world. ASQ is a global community of people and businesses dedicated to quality initiatives.
In addition to questions about their organization’s supply chain, the Manufacturing Outlook Survey also questioned respondents about their financial outlook for 2013. The results were nearly identical to last year’s responses.
Nearly 65 percent of respondents say they anticipate an increase in revenue in 2013, and 70 percent said they experienced revenue increases in 2012.
In comparison, and in the survey conducted last year in anticipation of 2012, 66 percent of respondents expected revenue growth in 2012 and 70 percent of respondents last year said they experienced revenue growth in 2011.
“It’s encouraging to see such optimism in manufacturers about their outlook of revenues for 2013,” said ASQ CEO Paul Borawski. “Manufacturing is a key driver of economies worldwide, and their health is important to businesses, communities and individuals that rely on them.”
