Poll Result
| What category most helps you select new products? | ||||
Recommendation from colleagues |
41% | |||
Supplier information |
32% | |||
Trade show visit |
20% | |||
Product of the Year winners |
5% | |||
| What would it take to develop a maintenance strategy in your plant? | ||||
We have a maintenance strategy |
84% | |||
Different management |
7% | |||
More money |
5% | |||
A major breakdown |
2% | |||
| What is the prevailing maintenance strategy in your plant? | ||||
Run To Failure |
83% | |||
Preventive |
8% | |||
CMMS |
5% | |||
Predictive |
2% | |||
| How does your plant use machine tooled parts? | ||||
We don’t use machine tooled parts |
57% | |||
We have an in-house tooling system |
41% | |||
We contract with a third party for parts |
0% | |||
We use a combination of the two |
0% | |||
| How important is your lift truck dealer’s response time to service calls? | ||||
Very unimportant |
96% | |||
Very important |
2% | |||
Somewhat important |
0% | |||
Somewhat unimportant |
0% | |||
| How likely are you to utilize a demo truck from a manufacturer to evaluate their truck in your operation? | ||||
Very unlikely |
68% | |||
Very likely |
13% | |||
Somewhat likely |
13% | |||
Somewhat unlikely |
5% | |||
| How do you handle service and repairs for your lift trucks? | ||||
In-house technician(s) perform service and/or repairs |
78% | |||
Use a mix of the above methods |
13% | |||
Use local dealer for routine service and/or repairs |
6% | |||
Use local independent technician(s) for service and/or repairs |
2% | |||
| What aspect of lift truck service and support is most important to you? | ||||
Relationship with dealer |
49% | |||
Warranty |
41% | |||
Speed of service provided |
6% | |||
Dealer expertise in your industry/business |
1% | |||
Parts availability |
1% | |||
| On average, how many hours do you put on one of your lift trucks each year? | ||||
>500 |
71% | |||
more |
27% | |||
1,001-2,000 |
0% | |||
3,001-4,000 |
0% | |||
501-1,000 |
0% | |||
2,001-3,000 |
0% | |||
| What alternative fuel for lift trucks would you consider using in your facility? | ||||
Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gas or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) |
57% | |||
Electric Battery (Conventional or Fast Charge) |
39% | |||
Fuel Cell (Hydrogen or Lithium) |
2% | |||
Internal Combustion/Electric Hybrid |
0% | |||
| Which lift truck metric do you put the most weight on when evaluating your lift truck options? | ||||
Cost of Operations |
70% | |||
Dependability |
16% | |||
Serviceability |
5% | |||
Productivity |
3% | |||
Ergonomics |
3% | |||
| Which of the following sources of lift truck information is the most influential in your purchase decision? | ||||
Recommendations from others in your industry |
92% | |||
Manufacturer’s website |
3% | |||
Printed brochures |
1% | |||
Dealer’s recommendation |
1% | |||
Advertising (print, online, etc.) |
0% | |||
| Would you travel outside your country to a manufacturing trade show? | ||||
No |
50% | |||
I did and it was valuable |
27% | |||
Yes |
22% | |||
I did and it was not valuable |
0% | |||
| Do you plan to upgrade your DCS soon? | ||||
No, I don't plan to upgrade |
76% | |||
Yes, within 6 months |
10% | |||
Yes, within 24 months |
5% | |||
Yes, within 12 months |
4% | |||
Yes, within 18 months |
2% | |||
| Our global manufacturing strategy is: | ||||
Make in U.S., ship global. |
43% | |||
Make and sell only U.S. |
36% | |||
Make close to end user. |
20% | |||
Make outside U.S. |
0% | |||
| I feel my overall compensation at my manufacturing plant is: | ||||
Making me look elsewhere |
35% | |||
Just okay |
25% | |||
Generally fair |
23% | |||
Way too low |
15% | |||
| If you find a new solution at a trade show that would help improve your plant, how fast can you implement it? | ||||
As soon as I can show ROI |
48% | |||
Not a chance |
27% | |||
Not until the next budget |
14% | |||
As soon as possible |
8% | |||
| What is the relationship between plant operations and IT at your facility? | ||||
A Family Feud |
81% | |||
Professional collaboration |
10% | |||
Cautious cooperation |
4% | |||
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell |
2% | |||
| As we start the new year, what’s your mood about manufacturing? | ||||
Terribly pessimistic |
77% | |||
Optimistic |
10% | |||
Wait and see |
7% | |||
Wildly optimistic |
3% | |||
Pessimistic |
1% | |||
| How would you rate your overall plant performance? | ||||
We’re nowhere close to being a Top Plant |
40% | |||
We need to fix a few things before being a Top Plant |
31% | |||
We’re a Top Plant |
14% | |||
We’re working toward becoming a Top Plant |
12% | |||
| What is the first way that you find out about new products that can help your plant? | ||||
Magazines |
46% | |||
Websites |
28% | |||
Word of mouth |
12% | |||
Supplier reps |
7% | |||
Trade shows |
5% | |||
| How is the proper use of PPE in your plant managed? | ||||
Full compliance enforced |
63% | |||
Full compliance expected |
20% | |||
Compliance left to manager |
7% | |||
Compliance left to employee |
6% | |||
No compliance |
1% | |||
| What is the barrier to hiring younger skilled workers for your plant? | ||||
We can't find skilled workers |
48% | |||
We don't have a problem |
23% | |||
We don't have a need |
12% | |||
We have a hiring freeze |
10% | |||
Manufacturing's reputation |
5% | |||
| As we reach the mid-year of 2011, what grade would you give the year so far at your manufacturing plant? | ||||
B |
28% | |||
C |
22% | |||
Inc. |
21% | |||
D |
12% | |||
A |
9% | |||
F |
5% | |||
| What new Plant Engineering online service would you use? | ||||
Video tutorials |
44% | |||
Animated process tutorials |
22% | |||
More industry data |
14% | |||
Audio/video plant tours |
11% | |||
Online discussion boards |
4% | |||
None of these would be helpful |
1% | |||
| What is your global manufacturing strategy? | ||||
We have plants around the world |
40% | |||
We actively export |
31% | |||
We have no interest |
15% | |||
We are starting to export |
6% | |||
We don’t know how to start |
6% | |||
| Training for my plant employees is: | ||||
A continuing process |
67% | |||
An occasional event |
20% | |||
Happens after an incident |
8% | |||
A monthly process |
3% | |||
| Energy management is: | ||||
Something we’re starting to implement |
36% | |||
Our plant’s top priority |
27% | |||
Just another cost in our facility |
25% | |||
Next on our checklist |
11% | |||
| In my manufacturing plant, maintenance is regarded by management as: | ||||
A necessary evil |
42% | |||
The first place to cut money |
29% | |||
A core principle |
17% | |||
A constant emphasis |
10% | |||
| What do you need to improve your plant operation? | ||||
New technology |
40% | |||
Less taxes and regulation |
28% | |||
More staff |
13% | |||
More time |
10% | |||
New product line |
6% | |||
| What is your primary source for learning about new products for your manufacturing operation? | ||||
Trade Magazines |
43% | |||
Supplier Websites |
22% | |||
Google Search |
14% | |||
Word-of-Mouth |
12% | |||
Trade Shows |
6% | |||
| What is your top reason for attending a technical conference? | ||||
Professional development |
39% | |||
Technical content relevance |
29% | |||
Exhibit/product displays/latest technologies |
23% | |||
Networking |
7% | |||
| What is the biggest plant floor challenge you face today? | ||||
Energy management |
34% | |||
Finding skilled workers |
31% | |||
Productivity management |
23% | |||
Safety management |
10% | |||