3D CAD NEWS

Online manufacturing supply chain marketplace MFG.com today announced results of their latest MFGWatch Survey covering energy-centric trends. Over 450 respondents from the MFG.com North American Buyer community completed the Survey, with 88.2% of the participants from the United States and 11.8% from Canada. Topics of the survey ranged from the impact of the rising cost of fuel to green manufacturing practices. Participants included engineers, purchasing professionals, and operations managers who actively use MFG.com to source for manufacturing services, custom and standard parts.

When asked what changes were planned to lower or offset fuel costs for their businesses, Buyers replied:
- 28% of the participants are buying materials from suppliers closer to their facilities
- 25% are reviewing all transportation and logistics providers contract arrangements
- 22% are planning no changes
- 18% are changing their approach to production, e.g moving from make-to-stock to make-to-order
- 7% are changing their warehousing, distribution and service center locations and/or strategies regarding supply chain network design

In addition to transportation costs rising as a result of fuel price increases, Buyers were asked to identify associated factors impacting their businesses:
- 42%  of the participants had increased raw materials costs, e.g. oil derivatives such as plastics and chemicals
- 22% of buyers encountered increased costs for manufacturing processes requiring heating and cooling
- 12% of the respondents experienced reduced demand for their, or their customers, products or services
- 9% of buyers had greater difficulty attracting and retaining staff
- 3% responded that they were losing sales to more energy efficient competitors

When asked if their company was actively pursuing Green (environmentally friendly) manufacturing practices, 51% of the participants responded affirmatively, 36% stated no changes were being made, and 12% did not know if their companies were pursuing Green initiatives. The YES respondants were asked to describe the Green initiatives they were currently practicing:
- 25% are recycling manufacturing waste
- 22% are reducing waste through more efficient manufacturing practices
- 17% have minimized power consumption through more efficient machine utilization
- 16% use recycled materials as a part of their raw materials
- 16% use green materials (wood from managed forests, toxic-chemical free materials, bio-degradable materials, etc.)

Buyers employing Green manufacturing practices were also asked how it affected their bottomline:
- 29% stated Green practices saves them money
- 27% stated Green practices attracts more business
- 20% did not know if there was an effect on their bottom line
- 13% stated Green practices have no effect
- 12% responded that Green manufacturing practices cost them more money

The MFGWatch survey also inquired if Buyers were developing new products to reduce their own fuel-related costs, such as reducing the size and weight of components and intermediate packaging. 66% of the participant responded No, while 28% stated they were developing new products. 6% did not know if their companies were taking steps to develop new products.

MFG.com Buyers were asked if they were developing new offerings that would enable their customers to reduce the fuel costs associated with using their products and services, e. g. more energy efficient. 31% of respondents stated they were developing new offerings, while 60% stated they were taking no steps in this direction.