Survey indicates optimism about manufacturing growth

A survey commissioned by industrial heat and control systems manufacturer Chromalox, Inc. indicated that the participants were optimistic about manufacturing and employment growth in 2006 and beyond. Chromalox surveyed manufacturing engineers and engineering management, with one-third of the 85 respondents working outside the United States.

Of the respondents, 76% expect plant production volumes to continue to increase this year, while only 17% forecast little or no change.ly this year, with 40% claiming there will be no change, and 49% planning to increase staff. 

Respondents said the ability of manufacturers to customize products for a particular application was of the utmost importance, with 39% saying that up to 20% of the products they buy are customized.

Only 5% of those surveyed last year had temperature control systems that included diagnostic or predictive maintenance capabilities, compared to 25% currently.

Of those surveyed, 27% currently have some form of remote equipment monitoring technology, and another 10% expect to add remote control technology between now and 2008. Click here for the full study .

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