May2025

NationwideStateofManufacturing

2025SurveyFindings

EDELMANDXI/?20251

EDELMANDXI/?20252

SURVEYMETHODOLOGY

businesses-mixofprincipals,producers,andcustomerservicerepresentatives.

AudiencesSampleSize

Methodology

Timing

U.S.Manufacturing

BusinessDecisionMakersN=400

ExecutivesandBusinessDecisionMakersatsmallandmiddle-marketUS

manufacturingbusinesses(Minimumof$5Minannualrevenueand50+

employees.)

15-Minute

SurveyFielded

OnlineSurvey

April4th-April21st,

2025

N=200

U.S.IndependentInsuranceAgents

Independentinsuranceagentswhoworkwithmanufacturingindustry

EDELMANDXI/?20253

KEYFINDINGS

1

Whileconcernoverinflationandtheimpactoftariffsishigh,manufacturersarestilllargelyoptimisticaboutbusinessconditions

?8in10(79%)Manufacturersratecurrentbusinessconditionsasgoodorexcellent,andasimilarpercentage(80%)reportapositiveoutlookonhowtheirbusinesswillperformoverthenext12months.

?AgentsechothissentimentwhenconsideringtheirManufacturingclients,with6in10(59%)reportingapositiveoutlookonhowtheirclients,businesseswillperformoverthenextyear.

?However,whenconsideringtheirbusiness,finances,roughly2in3Manufacturingdecisionmakersareconcernedaboutinflation,tariffs,andhighinterestrates.

2

Theimpactoftariffsistopofmindfortoday’sManufacturers,withmanytakingactionrelatedtoinventorymanagementandsupplychainresilienceinresponsetotariffpolicies

?Thinkingabouttheimpactoftariffsontheirbusiness,over6in10Manufacturersareconcernedabouttheincreasedcostsofrawmaterials(68%),havingtoraisepricesforproductsorservices(63%),andtheimpactoftariffsonprofitmargins(63%).

?Asaresult,manyaremakingchangesinresponsetochangingtariffpolicies,likeincreasinginventorylevels(49%),investingindomesticmanufacturing(41%),ordiversifyingsuppliersfromdifferentcountriesorregions(40%).

?However,itisclearthattheimpactoftariffswillfallonthecustomer-asmostManufacturingbusinessesareplanningtopassincreasedcostsontocustomers(32%)ordoacombinationofbothabsorbingcostsandincreasingcustomercostsinresponsetotariffs(44%).

EDELMANDXI/?20254

KEYFINDINGS

3

EmployeesarealsoatthecenterofManufacturers’concerns,withworkforceattraction/retentionandtrainingneedscitedastopworkforcechallengesoverthenext12months

?Thinkingabouttheirworkforce,Manufacturersciteattractingandretainingqualifiedemployees(37%),theneedfortraining/upskilling(34%),andemployeeproductivity(29%)asthebiggestconcernsfortheirbusinessoverthenext12months.

?Further,nearlytwothirds(64%)ofManufacturersdescribeworkforceattraction/retentionasaseriouschallengebothnowand12monthsfromnow.Thisisuniquelydifficultwhenitcomestotheyoungergeneration,with2in3Manufacturersagreeingitisdifficulttoattract

youngerworkerswiththerightskillsandthatyoungerpeopleoftendonotconsiderthemanufacturingindustryasaviablecareerpath.

4

Digitaltechnologiesaretransformingtoday’sManufacturingbusinesses,withmostcurrentlyleveraginginventorymanagementsystemsandIoTsolutionstodriveefficiency

?Investmentintechnology,specificallyinAI,iscitedbyManufacturersasthebiggestbusinessopportunityoverthenext12months,withnearlyhalf(49%)sayingso.

?MostManufacturershaveintegrateddigitaltechnologiesacrossatleastsomeareasoftheirbusiness,withinventorymanagementandIoTleadingadoptionrates,with91%and83%havingatleastpartiallyadoptedeach,respectively.

?ManyManufacturersareexperiencingbenefitsasaresultofAIadoption,likeimprovedoperationalefficiency(47%)andfinancialsavings(44%).However,thecostofadoptingthetechnologyanddifficultiesintegratingAIintoexistingsystemsorprocessesareinhibitingmanyorganizationsfromfullyleveragingit.

EDELMANDXI/?20255

KEYFINDINGS

5

Manufacturersaretakingactiontoreducesupplychainrisk,asgeopoliticalinstabilityandtariffpoliciesdrivestrategychanges

?3in5Manufacturers(61%)citesupplychaindisruptionsasaseriouschallengetoday,andevenmore(66%)areconcernedwhenlookingaheadtothefuture.

?ManyManufacturersreportincreasedleadtimesforproduction(49%),increasedcostspassedontocustomers(44%),andreducedproductavailability(43%)asaresultofsupplychaindisruptions.Asaresult,nearlytwothirds(64%)ofManufacturersarealreadydiversifying

suppliersandjustoverhalf(52%)arefrontloadinginventoryinanattempttocombatsupplychainrisks.

?WhilemostManufacturers(75%)currentlyrelyoninternationalsuppliers,over8in10havealreadystartedtoturntomoredomesticpartnersorarestronglyconsideringdoingsoduetotariffsorgeopoliticalinstability.

DetailedFindings:

CurrentBusinessConditionsandOutlook

EDELMANDXI/?20256

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

InflationandtariffstopthelistofManufacturers’financialconcerns

Amongthoseconcernedaboutinflationandrisingprices,nearlyhalfofreportthecostofrawmaterialshavingthegreatestimpactontheirbusinesscurrently.

TopBusinessFinancialConcerns

(Shown:%SelectedT2B“Very/ExtremelyConcerned”)

Inflation/risingprices

67%

Tariffs

64%

Highinterestrates

63%

USmarketvolatility

63%

Shippingdelays

61%

Costofinsurancepremiums

mm5

8%

Materialsshortages

mm5

8%

Geopoliticalconflict/tension

mm57%

Attracting/retainingemployees

mm57%

Costofworkers'compensation

mm54

%

Disruptionfromextremeweather

mm47%

WhichoftheFollowingCostsisHavingtheGreatestImpact?(Shown:%Selected,Amongthoseconcernedaboutinflation/risingprices)

44%

Costofrawmaterials

Costofshipping

Costofmaintainingfacilities,machinery,

ortechnology

Costoflabor

Costofenergy

17%

16%

12%

11%

Q3.Thinkingaboutyourbusiness’finances,howconcernedareyoucurrentlyaboutthefollowing?Base:ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakers(n=400)Q4.Youmentionedyouare

concernedabouttheimpactofinflationandrisingpricesonyourbusiness.Whichofthefollowingcostsishavingthebiggestimpactonyourbusinessrightnow?Selectonecategory.Base:

ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakersconcernedwithinflation(n=397)

EDELMANDXI/?20257

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

Despitethecurrentvolatilityofthefinancialenvironment,Manufacturersare

optimisticaboutbusinessperformanceoverthenexttwelvemonths

WhilefewerManufacturersratedtheoveralleconomyoftheUSas“good”or“excellent”,stillnearlytwo-thirdssaidso.Lookingaheadtothefuture,Manufacturersremainsurprisinglypositive–with80%reportinganoptimisticoutlookonhowtheirbusinesswillperformoverthenextyear.

Howwouldyourate…?

(Shown%Selected)

Currentbusinessconditionsforyourbusinessspecifically

Currentbusinessconditionsinyour

cityorregion

Currentbusinessconditionsinthe

USoverall

CurrentconditionoftheUSeconomy

overall

79%

72%

65%

62%

28%

21%

35%

38%

VeryGood/ExcellentPoor/Fair

BusinessPerformanceOutlook:Next12Months

(Shown:%selected)

11%

10%

80%

PositiveNegativeNeutral

EDELMANDXI/?20258

Q1.Howwouldyourate…?

Q2.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyouroveralloutlookonhowyourbusinesswillperformoverthenext12months?Base:ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakers(n=400)

EDELMANDXI/?20259

Q29.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribesyouroveralloutlookonhowyourmanufacturingclients’businesseswillperformoverthenext12months?Q30.Thinkingaboutyourmanufacturingclientsandtheirbusinessfinances,howconcernedareyouaboutthefollowing?Base:Agents(n=200)

Agents

WhileslightlylesspositivethanManufacturers,Agentsreportalargely

positiveoutlookfortheirclients’businessesoverthenext12months

AgentsalsoshowgreaterconcernthanManufacturersovertariffs,geopoliticaltension,andUSmarketvolatility.

OutlookonManufacturingClients’BusinessPerformanceOvertheNext12months

(Shown:%SelectedT2B“Positive”,B2B“Negative”)

Geopoliticalconflict/tension

Tariffs

USmarketvolatility MaterialsshortagesInflation/risingprices HighinterestratesShippingdelays

Costofworkers'compensation CostofinsurancepremiumsAttracting/retainingemployeesDisruptionfromextremeweather

22%

59%

20%

PositiveNeutralNegative

AgentConcernsforManufacturingClients’Businesses

(Shown:%SelectedT2B“Very/ExtremelyConcerned”)

77%

77%

75%

74%

71%

70%

70%

65%

62%

62%

53%

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

Manufacturersseeinvestmentintechnology,specificallyinAI,astheir

biggestbusinessopportunityoverthenext12months

Theintroductionofnewproductsandservices,workforcetraininganddevelopment,andsupplychainresiliencearealsocitedastopopportunities.

LargestBusinessOpportunitiesOvertheNext12Months

49%

Investmentintechnology(AI,automation,robotics)

38%

Introductionofnewproductsorservices

Robotics/AutomationofPhysicalTasks

InternetofThings/SmartDevices

Cybersecurity/ITInfrastructure

Leveragingbigdata/predictiveanalytics27%

3DPrinting5%

(Shown:%Selected)

LargestTechnology-RelatedBusinessOpportunities

18%

16%

15%

6%

AI

42%

VRTechforemployeetraining

(Shown:%Selected)

Workforcedevelopment/upskilling

37%

Supplychainresilience/diversification

34%

Expansionintonewmarkets

32%

Strengtheningcybersecuritymeasures

31%

Improvingriskmanagementstrategies

30%

10

Q5.Whatdoyouseeasthebiggestopportunitiesforyourbusinessoverthenext12months?Youmayselectuptothreefromthelistbelow.Q6.Whatdoyouseeasthebiggestinvestmentopportunityforyourbusinesswhenitcomestotechnology?Base:ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakers(n=400)

Agents

Agentsarealignedinseeingtechnologicalinvestmentasthegreatest

opportunityforthemanufacturingindustry,butarealsomorelikelytoseeriskmanagementstrategiesasatopopportunity

BiggestOpportunitiesforManufacturingClientsOvertheNext12months

(Shown:%Selected)

47%

Investmentintechnology(artificialintelligence(AI),automation,

robotics,etc.)

45%36%

Improvingriskmanagementstrategies

Workforcedevelopment/upskilling

35%

34%

34%

Leveragingbigdata/predictiveanalytics

Strengtheningcybersecuritymeasures

Introductionofnewproductsorservices

32%

31%

Supplychainresilience/diversification

Expansionintonewmarkets

11

EDELMANDXI/?2025

Q31.Thinkingaboutyourmanufacturingclients,whatdoyouseeasthebiggestopportunitiesfortheirbusinessesoverthenext12months?Base:Agents(n=200)

DetailedFindings:

Tariffs&SupplyChainDisruptions

EDELMANDXI/?202512

64%

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

ManufacturersbelievethenewUStariffpolicieswillhaveapositiveimpactontheirbusiness

Despitethesepositiveperceptions,however,mostManufacturingBDMsareconcernedabouttheimmediateincreasedcostsofrawmaterials,havingtoraisepricesforproductsorservices,andtheimpactoftariffsonprofitmargins.

ImpactofTariffPolicyonManufacturingBusiness

(Shown%Selected)

8%

17%

29%

57%

26%

Currently12monthsfromnow

PositiveimpactNoimpactNegativeimpact

TariffImpactConcerns

(Shown%Selected,T2B“Very/extremelyconcerned”)

Inceasedcostsofrawmaterials

68%

Havingtoraisepricesforfinishedgoods

63%

Impactonprofitmargins

63%

Difficultyinmaintainingpricingflexibility

6

1%

Havingtofindnewsuppliers

6

0%

Ensuringlegal/regulatorycompliance

58

%

Reducedcompetitivenesssininternational

markets

56

%

Havingtomoveoperationstootherlocations

53%

EDELMANDXI/?202513

Q7.Howmuchofanimpactaretariffshavingonyourbusinesscurrently,andhowmuchofanimpactdoyouexpecttariffswillhaveonyourbusiness12monthsfromnow?Q8.Thinkingabouttheimpactoftariffsonyourbusiness,howconcernedareyoucurrentlyaboutthefollowing?Base:ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakers(n=400)

Agents

AgentsaresplitintheirperceptionsaroundhowtariffswillimpacttheUSmanufacturingindustry

Overall,however,Agentsappeartobemoreconcernedthantheirmanufacturingclientsabouttheimpactsoftariffs,aslargersharesreportconcernoverraisingprices,increasingcosts,andshrinkingmargins.

ImpactofTariffsonManufacturingClients

(Shown:%Selected,T2B“Positive”,B2B“Negative”)

6%

10%

45%

43%

50%

48%48%

Currently

12monthsfromnow

PositiveimpactNoimpactNegativeimpact

93%

ofAgentsdiscuss

business/insurance

implicationsofnew

tariffpolicieswith

manufacturingclients

sometimes/often

ConcernsAboutTariffImpactsonManufacturingClients

(Shown:%SelectedT2B“Very/extremelyconcerned”)

Havingtoraisepricesforfinishedgoods

83%

Increasedcostofrawmaterials

80%

Impactonprofitmargins

75%

Reducedcompetitivenessininternationalmarkets

73%

Ensuringlegal/regulatorycompliance

71%

Difficultyinmaintainingpricingflexibility

71%

Havingtomoveoperationstootherlocations

68%

Havingtofindnewsuppliers

66%

Q32.Howmuchofanimpactaretariffshavingonyourmanufacturingclientscurrently,andhowmuchofanimpactdoyouexpecttariffswillhaveonthesebusinesses12monthsfromnow?Q33.Thinkingabouttheimpactoftariffsonyourmanufacturingclientsandtheirbusinesses,howconcernedareyoucurrentlyaboutthefollowing?Q34.Howoftendoyoudiscussgeneralbusinessandinsuranceimplicationsofnewtariffpolicieswithyourmanufacturingclients?Base:Agents(n=200)

EDELMANDXI/?202514

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

AroundhalfofManufacturersareincreasinginventorylevelsinresponse

tochangingtariffpolicies

Manyarealsotakingactionstoensuresupplychainresilience,likeinvestingindomesticmanufacturingordiversifyingsuppliersfromdifferentcountriesorregions.Andoverathirdareraisingpricesinresponsetotariffpolicies.

ActionsTakeninResponsetoChangingTariffPolicies

Noneoftheabove1%

(Shown:%Selected)

Increasedinventorylevels

49%

Investingindomesticmanufacturing

41%

Negotiatinglong-termcontractswithsupplierstolockinprices

40%

Diversifyingsuppliersfromdifferentcountriesorregions

40%

Exploringalternativematerialsorcomponentstoavoidtarrifcosts

39%

Raisingpricesforcustomers

38%

Consultinglegalortradeexpertstoensurecompliance

35%

Shiftingfocustonewmarketsorcustomerstooffsettariffimpact

34%

EDELMANDXI/?202515

Q9.Whatactions,ifany,isyourbusinesstakingnowinresponsetochangingtariffpolicies?Base:ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakers(n=400)

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

EDELMANDXI/?202516

Q10.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribeshowyourbusinessisplanningtomanagepotentialincreasedcostsfromtariffs?Base:ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakers(n=400)

Inresponsetotariffs,mostManufacturingbusinessesplantopassat

leastsomeincreasedcostsontocustomers

LessthanaquarterofManufacturersintendtopurelyabsorbcostsinordertoavoidraisingcustomerpricing.

MyBusinessPlanstoManagePotentialIncreasedCostsfromTariffsby…

(Shown:%Selected)

23%

44%

32%

Absorbingmostofthe

Combiningabsorb

ingcostsPassingmostoftheincreased

increasedcostswithout

andpassingincreasingcostsoncostsontocustomersthrough

passingontocustomers

tothecustomerpriceadjustments

Agents

2in3Agentssaytheirclientsareplanningtopasscostincreasesfrom

tariffstotheircustomers

MyClientsPlantoManagePotentialIncreasedCostsfromTariffsby…

(Shown:%Selected)

65%35%

Passingmostoftheincreasedcostsontocustomersthroughpriceadjustments

Absorbingmostoftheincreasedcostswithoutpassingontocustomers

EDELMANDXI/?202517

Q38.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribeshowmostofyourmanufacturingclientsareplanningtomanagethepotentialincreasedcostsfromtariffs?Base:Agents(n=200)

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

3in5Manufacturerscitesupplychaindisruptionsasaseriouschallengetoday,andevenmoreareconcernedwhenlookingaheadtothefuture

Thetopfactorsimpactingsupplychainsaretariffsaswellasthecostsofrawmaterialsandcomponents.

HowMuchofaChallengeisSupplyChainDisruption?

(Shown%Selected,T2B“Aseriouschallenge”)

WhichoftheFollowingisMostImpactingYourSupplyChain?

(Shown:%Selected)

61%

Aseriouschallenge

Currently

66%

Aseriouschallenge

12monthsfromnow

Tariffs

21%

Costofmaterialsandcomponents

1

9%

Reliabilityofsuppliers

13%

Availabilityofrawmaterials/components

12%

Shippingdisruptions

mm10%

Cyberattacks

7%

Regulatorycompliance

7%

Laborshortages

5%

Weatherevents

4%

Geopoliticalconflict

mm4%

EDELMANDXI/?202518

Q17.Howmuchofachallengeissupplychaindisruptionforyourcompanycurrentlyandhowmuchofachallengedoyouexpectitwillbeforyourcompany12monthsfromnow?Q18.

Whichofthefollowingismostimpactingyoursupplychain?Base:ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakers(n=400)

Agents

Roughly3in4Agentsconsidersupplychaindisruptionsaserious

challengebothnowand12monthsfromnow,withtariffsandtheavailabilityofrawmaterialshavingthegreatestimpact

HowMuchofaChallengeisSupplyChainDisruptionforYour

ManufacturingClients?

(Shown%Selected,T2B“Aseriouschallenge”)

72%

Aseriouschallenge

74%

Aseriouschallenge

Currently

12monthsfromnow

WhichoftheFollowingisMostImpactingYour

ManufacturingClients’SupplyChains?

(Shown:%Selected)

Tariffs

21%

Availabilityofrawmaterials/components

17%

Geopoliticalconflict

15%

Reliabilityofsuppliers

15%

Costofmaterialsandcomponents

12%

Shippingdisruptions

7%

Laborshortages

7%

Regulatorycompliance

5%

Weatherevents

3%

EDELMANDXI/?202519

Q43.Howmuchofachallengeissupplychaindisruptionforyourmanufacturingclientscurrently,andhowmuchofachallengedoyouexpectitwillbeforthesebusinesses12monthsfromnow?Q44.Whichofthefollowingisimpactingthesupplychainsofyourmanufacturingclientsthemost?Base:7s(n=200)

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

OverhalfofManufacturersarealreadydiversifyingsuppliersand

frontloadinginventoryinanattempttocombatsupplychainrisks

However,theseactionshavenotstoppedManufacturersfromhavingtoincreaseproductionleadtimes,increasecosts,ordelayorders.

StepsTakentoReduceSupplyChainRisks

(Shown:%Selected)

Diversifyingsuppliers

64%

Frontloadinginventory

52%

Created,reviewed,orupdatedbusinesscontinuityplanning

48%

Talkedtoaninsuranceagenttoensureadequatecoverage

45%

Havenottakenanyaction

1%

BusinessImpactsExperiencedfromSupplyChain

Disruptions

49%

44%

43%

42%

39%

36%

(Shown:%Selected)

Increasedleadtimesforproduction

Increasedthecostspassedtocustomers

Reducedproductavailability

Causeddelaysinorderfulfillment

Forcedalternativesourcingstrategies

Negativelyimpactedcustomerrelationships

Q20.Isyourcompanyactivelytakinganyofthefollowingstepstoreducesupplychainrisks?Q19.Inwhichofthefollowingways,ifany,havesupplychaindisruptionsimpactedyourbusiness?Base:ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakers(n=400)

EDELMANDXI/?202520

Agents

Agentsfindthatsupplychaindisruptionshaveimpactedtheirclientsmost

viaincreasedcustomercostsanddecreasedavailability,withhalfofclientshavingdiversifiedsuppliersinordertoreducerisks

WaysinWhichSupplyChainDisruptionsHave

ImpactedManufacturingClients

(Shown:%Selected)

Increasedthecostspassedtocustomers

Reducedproductavailability

Increasedleadtimesforproduction

Causeddelaysinorderfulfillment

Negativelyimpactedcustomerrelationships

Forcedalternativesourcingstrategies

49%

48%

48%

46%

44%

40%

StepsManufacturingClientsHaveTakento

ReduceSupplyChainRisks

(Shown%Selected)

Diversifyingtheirsuppliers

55%

Talkingwithaninsuranceagenttoensureadequatecoverage

50%

Creating,reviewing,orupdatingabusinesscontinuityplan

47%

Frontloadinginventory

47%

21

Q45.Inwhichofthefollowingways,ifany,havesupplychaindisruptionsimpactedyourmanufacturingclients?Q46.Areyouawareofanyofthefollowingstepstakenbyyourmanufacturingclientstoreducesupplychainrisks?Base:Agents(n=200)

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

EDELMANDXI/?202522

Q22.Doesyourbusinessrelyoninternationalpartnersorvendorsaspartofitssupplychain?Q23.Areyouconsideringadjustingyourbusiness'ssupplychainstorelymoreondomesticpartners/vendorsbecauseoftariffsorgeopoliticalinstability?Q24.Doyoubelievedomesticsupplierscancompletelyfulfilyoursupplychainneedsinthecaseoftariffdisruptions?Base:ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakers(n=400)

WhilemostManufacturerscurrentlyrelyoninternationalsuppliers,over8in10havealreadystartedtoturntomoredomesticpartnersorare

stronglyconsideringdoingsoduetotariffsorgeopoliticalinstability

BusinessRelianceonInternationalPartnersForSupplyChains

(Shown:%Selected)

AreYouConsideringRelyingMoreonDomesticPartnersDuetoTariffs/GeopoliticalInstability?

(Shown:%Selected)

75%

OfManufacturersrelyon

internationalpartnersand

vendorsfortheirsupplychain

2%

35%

50%

13%

Doingthiscurrently

Stronglyconsidering

SomewhatconsideringNotconsidering

55%

Believedomesticsupplierscanfulfillalltheirsupply

chainneeds

45%

Believetheywillhavetorelyonimported/tariffedsuppliers,orareunsure

Agents

EDELMANDXI/?202523

Q50.Aboutwhatpercentofyourmanufacturingclientsrelyoninternationalpartnersorvendorsaspartoftheirsupplychains?

Q51.Areyourclientsconsideringadjustingtheirbusiness'ssupplychainstorelymoreondomesticpartners/vendorsbecauseoftariffsorgeopoliticalinstability?Base:Agents(n=200)

Manufacturersareshiftingsupplychainstowarddomesticpartnersin

responsetotariffpressures,orstronglyconsideringdoingso

AccordingtoAgents,theoverwhelmingmajorityofManufacturersarereliantoninternationalpartnersandvendorsatleasttosomeextent.

AboutWhatPercentofYourManufacturingClientsRelyonInternationalPartners/VendorsasPartofSupplyChains?

(Shown:%Selected)

12%

42%

40%

7%

75%ormore

50%tolessthan75%25%tolessthan50%Lessthan25%

AreYourClientsConsideringAdjustingtheirBusiness’s

SupplyChainstoRelyMoreonDomesticPartners/Vendors

DuetoTariffsorGeopoliticalInstability?

Shown:%Selected)

24%

30%

46%

Manyarecurrentlydoingthis

Manyarestronglyconsidering

Manyaresomewhatconsideringthis

27%

27%

26%

26%

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

EDELMANDXI/?202524

Q21.Inwhichofthefollowingways,ifany,isyourbusinesscurrentlyworkingtodiversifyitssupplychain?Base:ManufacturingBusinessDecisionMakers(n=400)

OveronethirdofManufacturersarebeginningtosourcefrommultiple

suppliersoradoptdualsourcingstrategiestodiversifytheirsupplychains

StrategiesCurrentlyBeingImplementedtoDiversifySupplyChains

(Shown:%Selected)

37%35%

Sourcingfrommultiplesuppliers/geographicregions

Adoptingdualsourcingstrategies(i.e.,utilizingtwoormoresuppliersfor

criticalcomponents)

33%

32%

32%

31%

30%

Enhancingsupplierriskmanagementstrategies OnshoringornearshoringsupplychainsCollaboratingwithnewandemergingsuppliers

UsingdataandanalyticsforsupplychainoptimizationExploringtheuseoffreetradezones

IncorporatinglocalandsustainablesourcingExploringalternativematerialsandinputs

InvestinginsupplychaintechnologyandautomationDevelopingflexiblemanufacturingandassemblynetworks

ChallengesandOpportunities:

WorkforceandTechnologyAdoption

EDELMANDXI/?202525

ManufacturingDecisionMakers

EmployeesareatthecenterofManufacturers’concerns,withworkforce

attraction/retentionandtrainingneedscitedastopworkforcechallengesoverthenext12months

Similarly,nearlytwothirdsofManufacturersdescribeworkforceattraction/retentionasaseriouschallengebothnowand12monthsfromnow.

BiggestChallengesFacingBusinessOvertheNext12Months

(Shown:%Selected)

Attracting/retainingqualifiedemployees

Needfortraining/upskillingofcurrentworkers

Employeeproductivity

Findingenoughemployeeswithcriticalskills

Integrationoftechnology,automation,orrobotics

Managingexistingworkerorganizations/

unionizationefforts

Abilitytomeetcompensationexpectationsof

qualifiedworkers

Managing/maintainingorganizationalculture

Balancingworkloads/employeeburnout

Maintainingasafeworkingenvironment

24%64%

37%

34%

29%

28%

28%

27%

27%

26%

26%

22%

ChallengeofWorkforceAttraction/Retention

(Shown%Selected)

12%

24%

12%

64%

12monthfromnow

Currently

AseriouschallengeSomewhatofachallenge

Notachallenge

EDELMANDXI/?202526

Q12.Thinkingaboutyourworkforce,whatdoyouseeasthebiggestchallengesfacingyourbusinessoverthenext12months?Q11