April 2009 Survey covers what "Keeps Manufacturers Awake at Night"

Atlanta, GA – May 5, 2009 -- MFG.com today announced the results of an industry survey conducted with GIE Media, publisher of Today’s Medical Developments, Aerospace Manufacturing and Design, and Today’s Energy Solutions. MFG.com is the largest global online marketplace for the manufacturing community. Conducted in April 2009, nearly 600 manufacturers participated in the “What Keeps You Awake at Night” survey, providing feedback about key issues their companies are facing in today’s challenging economy.

With the economy pushing manufacturing to a 26-year low, respondents were first asked about their cash flow/availability concerns with 26% of the respondents stating the volume of RFQs/finding new business was their primary concern, followed by 20% citing collecting receivables; 19% said paying suppliers; 14% stating health insurance benefits; 13% chose making payroll; and 8% said buying/leasing equipment.

Top Industries Changing

When queried about the top three industries being served by survey participants, the responses ranked as follows:

* 23% consumer
* 13% electronic/component
* 12% construction/agriculture
* 11% aerospace/defense
* 10% medical
* 9% energy
* 9% automotive
* 7% packaging
* 4% marine
* 2% railroad

When asked about the top three industries they would like to conduct business with by 2012, energy led the list at 17%, as other industries followed:

* 17% energy
* 15% consumer
* 14% medical
* 13% aerospace/defense
* 10% electronics/components
* 9% construction/agriculture
* 7% automotive
* 6% packaging
* 5% marine
* 4% railroad

Training, Expenses, Relationship Key

In regard to revenue and their company, 40% of manufacturers surveyed said generating revenue was their largest worry, 37% chose performing in a down economy, and 23% stated commodity pricing pressures.

When asked about business concerns when it comes to staffing:
* 34% said having the right people
* 25% said keeping the right people
* 25% said finding skilled people
* 16% said training

Impacted by the decreased funds for business expenses, survey participants were asked about their cost cutting measures:

* 27% said the investment in new technologies
* 21% said the investment in new processes
* 21% said the cost of shop floor space/facility expense
* 20% said the maintenance of current equipment
* 9% said the investment in ancillary products

Respondents also cited their greatest concerns for their company were keeping customers happy while remaining profitable (24%), on-time delivery (18%), staying competitive (17%), offering customers unique services (16%), tailoring services to customers (13%) and knowing the competitors and how they are working (12%).

Growing Industry Presence Amidst Changes

Concerns from manufacturers regarding the overall running of their business showed close responses throughout all the survey answers. Twenty-three percent (23%) felt the market/customer changes were the top concern, 17% chose putting strategies into action, and 17% chose advertising/promotion. Keeping current with new technology weighed in with 16%, 14% chose internet/e-commerce, and 13% selected keeping morale up.

Although money is tight throughout manufacturing, marketing activities are still important to companies. Thirty percent (30%) stated that when it comes to marketing activities maintaining/growing industry presence is important followed by developing new markets (28%), creating new products (22%), contract negotiation (11%) and what products to keep (9%).

About GIE Media
GIE Media, Inc. is a leading B-to-B media company active in some 17 major national and international industries through print and digital trade magazines, Web sites and interactive media, conferences and tradeshows, reference books and directories, and market databases. Recently recognized as the number one company in Publishing Executive’s 10 Best Magazine Publishing Companies To Work For 2008, GIE employs over 100 media professionals with offices in Richfield, Ohio as well as Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Toronto, Virginia Beach, VA., and Fort Worth. For more information, visit www.GIEmedia.com.

About MFG.com
MFG.com is the Internet based platform upon which the global manufacturing industry conducts business. MFG.com’s open platform enables companies of all sizes from around the globe to intelligently connect, source, collaborate and perform due diligence with transparency and intellectual property protection. The MFG.com platform supports virtually all manufacturing process and industrial components, is in 10 languages, 12 currencies and has over 100,000 users on five continents. MFG.com has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information about MFG.com, please visit www.MFG.com.



Marketing Contact: Lindsay Bradshaw, MFG.com Marcom, 678-556-2973, Email Contact
Press Contact: Belinda Jones, HiTech Marketing, 860-399-1147, Email Contact