Atlanta, Georgia – Georgia manufacturers are enjoying higher profits, but in the rush to meet the demands of a rebounding economy, they may be shortchanging investment in future-focused technology and innovation, a new survey of the state’s manufacturing companies has found.
The 2014 Georgia Manufacturing Survey found that profits of Georgia manufacturers grew, on average, 13% between 2012 and 2014 – compared to an overall decline reported between 2010 and 2012. Despite this good news, however, the survey found fewer companies planning to invest in new technologies such as robotics, and a reduced reliance on innovation as a competitive strategy.
"Manufacturing companies in Georgia are more profitable than they have been for years," said Jan Youtie, director of policy research services at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute and the survey’s director. "However, we are seeing less investment in the kinds of things we would normally recommend as good practices in preparing for the future. This may indicate too much attention to the present and not enough on sustaining success in the future."
The reduced investment may simply signal a transition between the slow economy of the past several years and one that is getting back on a growth track, said Karen Fite, director of the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Partnership program (GaMEP), a federally-supported program that helps manufacturers improve their competitiveness.
"As companies are able to adjust to the new capacity needs, we're expecting them to begin investing again in the kinds of things that will ensure long-term competitiveness," said Fite. "We are also hearing from manufacturers that they are waiting on some of the most exciting technologies, such as additive manufacturing and cloud-based systems, to mature and for prices to fall. Investing too early in the development cycle of new technologies can be costly."
Results from the survey, produced by the Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Department of Labor, Kennesaw State University and the accounting firm Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP (HA&W), were released September 24. The survey is based on responses from 504 Georgia manufacturing companies contacted during the first half of 2014.
Concerns about the availability of workers with technical and basic skills were more prevalent in the 2014 survey than in earlier studies, noted Philip Shapira, a professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy and co-director of the study.
“Georgia manufacturers have benefitted over the last year or so from economic recovery, and indicate problems finding workers with basic and technical skills to further grow their businesses,” said Shapira, who is also a professor of innovation management and policy at the Manchester Business School in England. “Yet, worryingly, investment in workforce training is below 2012 survey levels.”
Georgia companies may be overlooking a tax credit that could help them improve the skills of their employees.
“The Georgia Retraining Credit is an often overlooked tax credit that Georgia manufacturers can take advantage of to train their current employees on certain equipment, technology, processes, or software,” said Adam Beckerman, partner-in-charge of HA&W’s Manufacturing and Distribution group. “The credit creates a huge opportunity for Georgia manufacturers to provide their workforce with the technical training that many lack by covering a manufacturer’s direct expenses for training session.”
Beyond improving profitability, falling energy prices also provided good news, as the survey reported a dramatic reduction in the percentage of firms concerned about energy cost.
"The cost of energy has been a significant issue for several years, but in the newest survey, it dropped to among the lowest levels," said Youtie. “In the 2012 survey, for example, 21% of respondents cited high energy costs as a concern, but just two years later, only 11% ranked it as a big issue.”
Energy expenditures as a percentage of sales declined nearly 6% for the median Georgia manufacturer between 2012 and 2014. The decline was even more significant for large manufacturers, who saw a 12% drop.
Exporting has provided new market opportunities, and past surveys had seen an increase in the percentage of Georgia manufacturers sending their goods overseas. In the 2014 survey, however, the number of companies expecting to increase exports dropped to 20% from 23% in 2012.
Georgia Tech helps companies apply innovation to their products and processes. The survey found that innovation remains largely an activity for larger companies, where two-thirds of respondents said they were innovating in products, processes, organizations or marketing. Most firms reporting innovation said they were collaborating with suppliers and customers.
“Companies that want to grow must shift away from low-cost strategies and innovate through new technologies, research and development, and new products and processes,” said Beckerman.
Use of sustainable manufacturing techniques such as life-cycle analysis, carbon foot printing, and greenhouse gas emission inventories remains low in Georgia, with only 9% of companies producing a carbon footprint inventory, for example.
“The percentage using sustainable manufacturing technologies is very low, and a large number of respondents felt they weren’t applicable,” said Youtie. “We feel that life cycle analysis is applicable to any manufacturer, but half the companies don’t plan to do it and 26% say it’s not applicable.”
Among other findings:
- The percentage of Georgia companies benefitting from in-sourcing – the transfer of production to them from another facility – dropped from 16% in the 2012 survey to 13% in 2014. The percentage losing work to other facilities dropped from 14% to 11%.
- The percentage of Georgia companies using robotics technology remains low, with just 10% using robots in their processes and only 6% planning to adopt them. High-use technology included enterprise resource planning software (68%) and computer-aided-design software (63%).
- The use of lean manufacturing techniques, which improve efficiency and reduce costs, dropped from nearly 60% in the 2012 survey to 44% in the latest survey.
- The profitability of companies that compete on the basis of low price nearly doubled from the 2012 to 2014 survey, reflecting the results of a higher production volume. Such companies reported profit margins of more than 9%, compared to 10% for companies competing on the basis of innovation.
- Companies that compete on the basis of innovation had the highest average wage rate: $43,605. Companies competing on the basis of quick delivery or low price reported wages of $37,763 and $38,006 respectively.
- Only 27% of Georgia manufacturers conduct research and development activities in-house.
First produced in 1994, the Georgia Manufacturing Survey is conducted regularly to benchmark the use of modern manufacturing technology, practices, and techniques. Information obtained from the survey is used to improve manufacturing assistance programs and regional innovation initiatives that help Georgia companies compete, improve their profitability, and create jobs for Georgians. Results from the 2014 GMS are available. You can access a 12-page summary of results here. The full report is available here.
Source: Georgia Tech