Manufacturing Institute report shows manufacturers’ approaches to investment decisions

The Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers, in partnership with Cognizant, has released a study that examines the different approaches manufacturers take in making investment decisions.

“As manufacturers continue to evolve, the nature of work and skills must adapt to meet the needs of the changing industry. Manufacturing leaders must prioritize investments to best position their companies in a competitive marketplace and set themselves up for success over the long term,” said NAM Chief Economist and Director for the Center of Manufacturing Research Chad Moutray. “Three investment priorities emerged across manufacturer size and industry: increasing throughput and lowering costs where possible; creating new opportunities for growth; and building a stronger, more resilient workforce. Nearly all the companies we interviewed emphasized the importance of investing in their workforce.”

The study comprised an online survey and in-depth interviews of manufacturing leaders from June to August 2023.

When asked about their top priorities for current dollars, nearly 74% of manufacturers reported building a robust and trained workforce as a key area for investment, which fits in with the larger macroeconomic conditions of the tight labor market and shortage of available workers.

When business leaders were asked how they would spend a marginal $1 million, 61.5% would invest in new equipment. This points toward a desire to make smart investments that will transform operations and the production process, while also ensuring that the workforce can adapt to such changes.

Additional areas of focus for marginal dollar investment included investing in improved processes and operations (60.2%), optimizing existing equipment (53.4%), investing in new equipment (51.7%), investing in new technologies (46.6%), and research and development (44.9%).

When considering their future growth strategies, manufacturers identified a stronger domestic economy for growing sales (69.5%), increased efficiencies in the production process (67.8%), and maintaining a robust and trained workforce (67.0%) as the most significant factors in contributing to expansion.

From survey data and interviews, three investment priorities emerged across manufacturer size and industry: increasing throughput and lowering costs where possible; creating new opportunities for growth; and building a stronger, more resilient workforce.