Most manufaturers recognize the importance of global awareness for their businesses. Yet less than half are actively participating in international business: Only 46% of U.S. manufacturers operate or partner in one or more production facilities outside the United States, and just 47% have one or more sales and/or distribution facilities outside the United States.
Other firms have more aggressive global plans: 9% of manufacturers have production facilities in more than 10 countries, and 12% of manufacturers have sales and/or distribution facilities in 10 or more countries.[1]
Unfortunately, Next Generation Manufacturing research finds that a majority of manufacturers don’t measure their return from global-engagement strategies, while 47% describe the quality of their business systems and equipment to support global engagement as either “none” or “inadequate for current requirements.”
The NGM findings paint a grim picture for those organizations without global engagement strategies. Without systems, equipment or monitoring procedures, these firms will struggle to manage even the most rudimentary international opportunities — while globally minded competitors continue to expand their reach, and their revenues, farther from home.
[1] 2011 Next
Generation Manufacturing Study, The MPI Group, 2011.
