The 2021 Marcum National Manufacturing Survey Report
The results of the inaugural 2021 Marcum National Manufacturing Survey are here, and they reveal an industry that is both optimistic and forward-looking, despite the lingering bruises of the COVID pandemic.
The survey, which was distributed to manufacturing business owners, operations managers, service providers, finance professionals and more, asked respondents to weigh in on how their companies performed over the past 12 months and what they expect in the year ahead.
We netted a strong number of responses to more than three dozen questions on some of the most mission-critical issues for today’s manufacturers, including these:
- Skilled labor shortages and challenges
- Material price volatility and containment
- Supply chain disruption
- Mergers & acquisitions prospects
- Cybersecurity threats
- Possible tax increases
- And of course… COVID-19 impacts
Overall, respondents’ optimism is real, but it’s cautious. Without a doubt, answers to the continued labor shortage and aging workforce – which emerged as respondents’ top concerns – are desperately needed by manufacturers throughout the nation. A discussion of smart manufacturing as a pathway to workforce efficiency – one way to address these challenges – is included alongside the survey findings.
Additional insights on leveraging tax credits for innovation and the imperative for cyber preparedness also provide essential considerations for manufacturers’ strategic planning.
We invite you to download a copy of the full report here. We also welcome your thoughts and observations on our findings – a spirited discussion with your Marcum advisor about the implications for your business and potential strategies to address the issues raised would be a valuable next step.
For questions about Marcum’s manufacturing survey, or other manufacturing issues or business challenges, please contact Jonathan J. Shoop at 216-242-0820 or [email protected].
