Managing Automation - January 2009 - (Page 33) growth across the Atlantic. Manufacturers’ confidence in the health of their own businesses, as a consequence of the worldwide economic meltdown, has slid correspondingly, with one-third of the U.S. audience saying they are less confident going into 2009, compared with only about 15% expressing that feeling last year. In Europe, the numbers heading into 2009 are almost the same, with 32.6% saying they are less confident. The worldwide financial crisis, brewing for well over a year and accelerating sharply this fall in the midst of the U.S. presidential campaign, has already had a clear and significant impact on manufacturing companies. In the United States, 36% say the crisis has had a moderate-to-significant impact, compared with 19% last year. In Europe, the numbers are far more pronounced. There, 51% say the effects have already been felt. These are just some of the key findings of the new MA and ME reader polls on how manufacturers are assessing their business prospects and technology initiatives in 2009. More than 250 readers in the United States and about 130 of their European counterparts voiced their opinions on the state of their economies, their confidence levels in their own businesses, and their attitudes about technology investments this year. In addition, they weighed in on the importance of becoming agile, a business discipline this magazine first began investigating in its 2006 Outlook poll. This year, U.S. poll respondents are signaling that agility will retain its importance as a business discipline in the tough year ahead; in Europe, there is somewhat less emphasis on agility as a business strategy. But, clearly, the most significant findings in this year’s polls have to do with declining levels of confidence in the economy and business activity — results that are hardly surprising given what has transpired economically in the past few months. Importantly, the poll reveals a key, but again predictable, t ma pollech priorities TECHNOLOGY BUDGETS CONTINUE TO APPEAR INSULATED Q: In 2009, what is your company’s plan for its technology budget? Cut budget more than 10%: 7.5% Cut budget 5-10%: 12.6% Don’t know: 11% Increase budget more than 10%: 6.3% Increase budget 5-10%: 9.4% Cut budget more than 10%: 2.2% Cut budget 5-10%: 4.5% Don’t know: 8.1% Cut budget more than 10%: 11.5% Don’t know: 11.5% Increase budget more than 10%: 5.4% Increase budget 5-10%: 13.1% Increase budget more than 10%: 12% 2009 2008 Keep it flat with prior year: 30.4% Increase budget 5-10%: 21.7% Cut budget 5-10%: 8.5% 2009 Europe Keep it flat with prior year: 39% Increase budget up to 5%: 14.2% Increase budget up to 5%: 21.2% Keep it flat with prior year: 34.6% Increase budget up to 5%: 15.4% MOBILITY, IT CONSOLIDATION TOP TECH PRIORITIES FOR 2009 Q: Among technology priorities, what emphasis will your company place on the following activities in 2009? Integration of plant floor systems with business systems 32.8% 24.2% 16.8% 26.7% 19% 15.8% 21.3% 17.6% 17.6% 35.9% 29% 23.4% 21.9% 19.4% 11.3% 21.7% 17.6% 12.3% 58.5% 54.9% 42.8% 44.8% 39.1% 34% 28.3% 16% 14.9% 48.7% 51% 57.1% 54.9% 55.9% 57.7% 61.3% 59% 60.2% 47.9% 55.7% 51.3% 61.2% 63% 67% 55.5% 59.2% 62.3% 35% 40% 45.7% 45.7% 50.7% 52.9% 50.2% 57.7% 55.5% 18.4% 24.8% 26.2% 18.3% 25.2% 26.8% 17.3% 23.4% 22.3% 2009 2008 2009 Europe 2009 2008 2009 Europe 2009 2008 2009 Europe Enabling inter-enterprise collaboration Developing the corporate information architecture Integrating design, production 16.2% 2009 15.4% 2008 25.3% 2009 Europe 16.9% 17.6% 21.7% 22.8% 23.2% 25.5% Embracing industry standards 2009 2008 2009 Europe 2009 2008 2009 Europe Information systems consolidation Outsourcing all or part of IT function 6.5% 2009 5% 2008 11.4% 2009 Europe 9.5% 2009 10% 2008 13.2% 2009 Europe 21.4% 26.2% 29.7% Utilizing hosted application services or managed network services Making systems and people more mobile 2009 2008 2009 Europe Low = Medium = High = Percentages may have been rounded and may not equal 100%. 33 January 2009
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