The Georgia Manufacturers Survey 1996

-Survey questions refer to this facility.
-All individual firm and facility information will be kept confidential.
-We understand you do not always keep exact records of all activities—estimates are fine.
-Please return this survey in the enclosed postage-paid envelope within 10 days to:

Jan Youtie
Economic Development Institute
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0640
Tel: 404/894-6111 Fax: 404/894-0069

Please confirm your name and address and make any changes.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

1. In which of the following areas does your facility have the most significant problems or needs? (Check all boxes that apply.)
 Plant layout, expansion planning
 Manufacturing process, setup, scrap
 Product development/design
 Material failure, wear patterns, and other material-related issues
 Computer applications (e.g., CAD/CAM, computer networks, electronic data interchange)
 Business systems (e.g., for planning, scheduling orders, inventory)
 Quality assurance (e.g., ISO 9000, QS-9000, Malcolm Baldrige)
 Market development, exporting
 Access to financing
 Basic skills (e.g. reading, writing, math, keyboard skills)
 Technical skills (e.g. quality control, preventive maintenance)
 Supervisory skills, management, and team building skills
 Energy costs, conservation
 Environmental, health, and safety compliance
Other (please describe)___________________________________________________________________

2. For each of the information technology and quality management methods listed below, please indicate the answer that best reflects this facility's use of that method. (Check box.)

3. For each of the manufacturing production technologies listed below, please indicate the answer that best reflects this plant's use of that technology. (Check box.)

4. Approximately how many keyboards and keypads were used in manufacturing and design (include PCs, terminals, workstations, programmable controllers, and other hand-held data entry devices; do not include equipment used for office or payroll). ________________

5. Is this the only facility in the company?
 Yes
 No

6. What percentage of this facility's sales in the past year were from products designed or developed at this location? _______________%

What percentage of this facility’s sales in the past year came from orders where you were able to charge a price premium over your competitors based on distinctive characteristics of your product(s) or specialized processing capabilities? _______________%

7. What percentage of your sales in fiscal year 1996 was shipped to customers:

In Georgia                     _______%

Elsewhere in the U.S.     _______%

Exports outside the U.S. _______%

8. Do you usually subcontract or outsource any part of your manufacturing work? (Check box.)
 No
 Yes   (IF YES) What percentage of your production, by value, is subcontracted:

In Georgia______% Elsewhere in the U.S. _______% Outside the U.S._______%

9. Approximately what percentage of your total annual sales or value of shipments of production was shipped to federal defense agencies, U.S. Department of Energy facilities, prime contractors, or subcontractors? (Check box.)
 None
 1-9%
 10-49%
 50% or more

10. Please indicate whether your plant participates with other firms in any of the following cooperative activities. (Check box.)

11. Now, we would like to ask a few questions about your work force. If you don't know the approximate number for the following work force questions, just give an estimate.

12. Would you be interested in receiving training from Georgia Tech on the following topics? (Check box.)

 Lean manufacturing, just-in-time inventory systems
 Internet for manufacturers
 MRP II
 Barcoding
 Electronic data interchange (EDI)
 ISO 9000, QS-9000 quality certification
 ISO 14000 environmental management certification
 Human resources, team building, supervisor development
 Safety & health, ergonomics
 Pollution prevention
 Finance, management
 Marketing, niche marketing, market planning
 International business development
 Product development, rapid prototyping
 Materials joining, plastics/laser welding
 Energy management
Other topics (please describe)______________________________________________________________

13. One important characteristic in assessing any changes in Georgia manufacturers is value-added per employee, which is used as a measure of productivity. It is obtained from sales revenue less the total cost of purchased materials and services. If you don't know the approximate number, just give an estimate. All estimates should be for this facility.

14. In the past two years, has your plant received business assistance from:

a. A private-sector business assistance source, such as a private consultant, vendor, customer, industry association, or other private source? (Check box.)
 Yes
 No
 Don't know

b. A public or non-profit business assistance source, such as a federal, state or local government program, university, technical institute, utility, technology or training center? (Check box.)
 Yes
 No
 Don't know

If you checked YES to Question 14a or 14b, please indicate the types of business assistance received. (Check all boxes that apply.) Otherwise, skip to the bottom of the page.

If your plant has received business assistance from a public or non-profit source, which of the following organizations provided it? (Check all boxes that apply.)
 Georgia Tech (main campus in Atlanta)
 Georgia Tech Regional Office
 Small Business Development Center/Business Outreach Services Center
 Technical institute (Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education, Quick Start)
 Georgia Power Company
 Federal laboratory, NASA Technology Transfer Center, or other federal technology program
 Other (please list) ________________________________________________________

IF YOUR ORGANIZATION RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM GEORGIA TECH, PLEASE ANSWER QUESTIONS 15 AND 16 ON THE NEXT PAGE. IF NOT, PLEASE GO TO QUESTION 17 AT THE END OF QUESTIONNAIRE.

15. What impacts have resulted, or are expected to result, from the assistance provided by Georgia Tech? (Check box.)

What impacts on your employees/managers have resulted, or are expected to result, from the assistance provided by Georgia Tech? (Check box.)

As a direct result of the assistance received from Georgia Tech, has there been any impact on the number of people your company employs? Please enter numbers. If no employment effects resulted or are expected, please enter “0.”

Full-Time Equivalent Jobs

16. Considering all the benefits from Georgia Tech assistance you identified in Question 15, but not the costs, what is your estimate of the dollar value, to date, of the following:

Approximate Total Benefits

Increased sales                                                                           $________________________

Savings in labor, materials, energy, waste, other cost savings        $________________________

What has been the approximate total costs of your facility’s involvement in the project(s)? (Total costs include personnel costs, materials, travel, marketing, equipment, and other project-associated investments.)

Approximate Total Costs

$________________________

17. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about problems upgrading manufacturing processes, difficulties using technology, or ways additional technical assistance could help you? If so, please use the space below.

 Please check box if you would like to receive information about Georgia Tech’s services, seminars, and workshops.