“Voice of Manufacturers” Survey Launched To Provide Updated Data on Rhode Island Manufacturing Sector
Poll looks at trends shaping the Ocean State manufacturing industry, including economy, workforce, innovation and growth
Providence, RI – February 29, 2024 – Rhode Island non-profit consulting group Polaris MEP is looking for responses to a new 2024 “Voice of Manufacturers” survey. Questions posed to the Ocean State’s 1400+ manufacturers are designed to provide an updated look at the health of the industry, two years after Polaris MEP released a comprehensive, first-ever “State of RI Manufacturing Study.”
“Much has changed in two years, but what hasn’t changed is that the manufacturing sector has an outsized, positive impact on our economy,” said Matt Watson, Polaris MEP Center Director. “Polaris MEP’s 2022 study was the first to focus exclusively on the challenges that our state’s manufacturers face. It’s again time to hear directly from these business owners. What will help them find greater success? What do they want legislators to know?”
The 2022 State of RI Manufacturing Study revealed that more than 85% of all manufacturing establishments are small businesses with fewer than 50 employees, yet the sector accounts for nearly 1 in 10 of all private sector workers.
“It’s critical that we give these small business owners, these manufacturing leaders a chance to tell us what’s needed for a stronger future of manufacturing in RI,” said Watson.
Senior executives at any company that currently has manufacturing, kitting, assembling or distribution operations in RI are invited to take the 2024 Voice of Manufacturers survey. The online survey can be found at https://go.polarismep.org/24voices.
The 2024 Voice of Manufacturers survey poses questions about sales, workforce, automation, and robotics, among other critical business issues. Several new questions address corporate structure and minority / woman business ownership, exporting and succession planning.
Polaris MEP will compare data gathered this year to the responses collected during the 2022 Voice of Manufacturers survey. Individual responses will be kept confidential; aggregated results will be published in late spring 2024.
“Polaris MEP’s mission is to strengthen and empower RI’s small and medium-sized manufacturers,” said Watson. “We are eager to hear what manufacturing leaders feel is most important to keep this sector thriving and growing.”
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About Polaris MEP
Polaris MEP provides competitive business improvement programs to grow Rhode Island’s manufacturing industry. Polaris MEP is a statewide nonprofit organization. An affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), the consultancy is a business unit of the URI Research Foundation. www.PolarisMEP.org