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  2. 2015
  3. February
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  5. CT Manufacturing Survey
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Thank you for participating in our survey.  

This project will help us understand how Connecticut manufacturers feel about the present condition and future prospects of
manufacturing in our state.

Your survey responses will be strictly confidential and data from this research will be reported only in the aggregate.

The survey should take you about 10 minutes to complete.  Once you complete the survey you will have the option of entering a random drawing for a $250, $150, or $100 cash prize.  

If you have questions about the survey, you may contact Candace Fitzpatrick, Project Manager at: [email protected].

Please start the survey now by clicking on the Continue button below.  

PLEASE NOTE:  Once the "Continue" button is clicked on each page, there is no way to go back to a previous page.  Your browser's back button will not work.
 
 
 
Overall, how would you rate economic conditions in Connecticut for individuals, families, and businesses?
 
Excellent
 
Good
 
Fair
 
Poor
 
 
 
How would you rate economic conditions in Connecticut for all business sectors?
 
Excellent
 
Good
 
Fair
 
Poor
 
 
 
How would you rate economic conditions in Connecticut specifically for the manufacturing industry sector?
 
Excellent
 
Good
 
Fair
 
Poor
 
 
 
Looking ahead 6-12 months, do you anticipate overall economic conditions in Connecticut will:
 
Improve a great deal
 
Improve somewhat
 
Stay about the same
 
Decline somewhat
 
Decline a great deal
 
 
 
Looking ahead 6-12 months, do you anticipate that economic conditions in Connecticut for all business sectors will:
 
Improve a great deal
 
Improve somewhat
 
Stay about the same
 
Decline somewhat
 
Decline a great deal
 
 
 
Looking ahead 6-12 months, do you anticipate that economic conditions in Connecticut specifically for the manufacturing industry sector will:
 
Improve a great deal
 
Improve somewhat
 
Stay about the same
 
Decline somewhat
 
Decline a great deal
 
 
 
This next set of questions explore past, current and projected sales, as well as factors that may impact your business’ sales.
 
 
 
How would you compare your business’ sales for 2014 versus 2013?
 
2014 greater than 2013
 
2014 equal to 2013
 
2014 less than 2013
 
 
 
What percentage were 2014 sales GREATER than 2013 sales? Please type number between 1 and 100 in box below.
   
 
 
 
What percentage were 2014 sales LESS than 2013 sales? Please type number between 1 and 100 in box below.
   
 
 
 
How would you compare your business’ 2014 actual sales versus what was forecasted?
 
Greater than forecasted
 
Equal to forecasted
 
Less than forecasted
 
 
 
What percentage were 2014 sales GREATER than forecasted? Please type number between 1 and 100 in box below.
   
 
 
 
What percentage were 2014 sales LESS than forecasted? Please type number between 1 and 100 in box below.
   
 
 
 
How does 2015’s sales forecast compare to 2014’s actual sales?
 
Large increase
 
Slight increase
 
About the same
 
Slight decline
 
Large decline
 
Not sure
 
Don’t forecast sales
 
 
How serious a threat is each of the following to your business’ sales growth?
Very serious Somewhat serious Not too serious Not at all a serious
Raw material price increases
Overall cost increases for labor
Overhead increases (other than labor)
General economic climate
Availability of skilled labor
Competitive threats
Staffing issues
Production capacity limitations
Technology changes
Reduced demand for goods and/or services
Environmental regulation compliance
Federal regulatory issues (other than environmental)
State regulatory issues (other than environmental)
Other
 
 
 
Please describe other threats to your sales growth.
   
 
 
Are you considering any of the following actions to increase your business’ sales revenue?
Definitely will consider Probably will consider Probably will not consider Definitely will not consider N/A
Increase domestic sales
Increase export sales
New products for existing markets
New markets for existing products
New products in new markets
Expand current production capacity
Acquisitions
 
 
 
Did you increase the prices you charge during your last business year?
 
Yes
 
No
 
 
Did you increase prices due to:
Yes No
Labor cost increases
Material cost increases
Utility cost increases
Freight cost increases
Other overhead cost increases
Other
 
 
 
Please list other reason(s) you increased prices in 2014. (Type in box below)
   
 
 
Did you not increase prices due to:
Yes No
Current pricing arrangements do not allow adjustments
Unable to increase prices due to competitive situation
 
 
 
The next few questions explore issues related to personnel and benefit expenses at your business.
 
 
 
What is the current number of FULL TIME employees at your business? (Please type number in box below.)
   
 
 
 
What is the current number of PART TIME employees at your business? (Please type number in box below. If you do not have PT employees, please enter zero.)
   
 
 
 
What is the current number of TEMPORARY employees at your business? (Please type number in box below. If you do not have temporary employees, please enter zero.)
   
 
 
 
How would you compare your current employment level versus last year’s employment level?
 
Up significantly
 
Up slightly
 
No change
 
Down slightly
 
Down significantly
 
 
Which of the items listed below, if any, are reasons that your business has difficulty in hiring the optimal number of employees?
Yes No N/A
Special skills needed
Lack of qualified candidates
Pre-employment drug testing
Pay rates not competitive
Benefit costs prohibit additional hiring
Working conditions
Difficulty attracting shift workers
Other
 
 
 
Please list any other reason(s) your business had difficulty hiring the optimal number of employees in 2014. (Type in box below)
   
 
 
In 2014, which Connecticut hiring incentives, if any, has your business taken advantage of?
Yes No
STEP UP (Subsidized Training and Employment Program)
Tax credit for hiring veterans
JET (Job Expansion Tax Credit)
Apprenticeship Tax Credit
Other
 
 
 
Please list any other Connecticut hiring incentives your business used in 2014. (Type in box below.)
   
 
 
In 2014, did your company taken any of the following measures in response to the the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)?
Yes No
Reduced the number of full-time workers (healthcare benefit required)
Increased the number of part-time workers (healthcare benefit not required)
Intentionally stayed below the 50 full-time employee (FTE) employment level
Made changes in the healthcare coverage you provide to your employees
 
 
In 2014, did your company take any of the following measures in response to the State of Connecticut's increase in the minimum wage?
Yes No
Reduce the number of hours for employees earning hourly wage
Reduce the number of employees earning hourly wage
Reduce the number of salaried employees
Increase prices
 
 
 
Is your company part of the CT aerospace industry supply chain?
 
Yes
 
No
 
Don't know
 
 
 
Does your company have at least one federal contract over $700,000?
 
Yes
 
No
 
Don't know
 
 
 
The next few questions are about the Defense Contract Auditing Agency (DCAA) and it’s Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) System.

FAR provides policies and procedures that government acquisition officials and contractors must follow in the procurement process for goods and services.
 
 
 
Overall, how prepared would you say your company is to meet the federal contracting requirements specified in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)?
 
Very prepared
 
Somewhat prepared
 
Somewhat unprepared
 
Not at all prepared
 
Don't know
 
 
 
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Truth-in-Negotiations Act (TINA) outlines rules for federal contract pricing.  

How familiar would you say your company is with TINA requirements?
 
Very familiar
 
Somewhat familiar
 
Somewhat unfamiliar
 
Not at all familiar
 
Don't know
 
 
 
When preparing a federal government bid, how prepared is your company to comply with Truth-in-Negotiations Act (TINA) requirements regarding pricing?
Would you say it is…
 
Very prepared
 
Somewhat prepared
 
Somewhat unprepared
 
Not at all prepared
 
Don't know
 
 
 
Would you say your company is aware the Defense Contract Auditing Agency (DCAA) conducts post-award audits of contractor certified costs and pricing data?
 
Yes
 
No
 
Don't know
 
 
 
How familiar is your company with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) accounting system requirements?  
Would you say it is…
 
Very familiar
 
Somewhat familiar
 
Somewhat unfamiliar
 
Not at all familiar
 
Don't know
 
 
 
How prepared is your company to comply with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) accounting system requirements?  
Would you say it is…
 
Very prepared
 
Somewhat prepared
 
Somewhat unprepared
 
Not at all prepared
 
Don’t know
 
 
 
How prepared is your company to respond to a Defense Contract Auditing Agency (DCAA) audit?  
Would you say it is…
 
Very prepared
 
Somewhat prepared
 
Somewhat unprepared
 
Not at all prepared
 
Don’t know
 
 
 
The next few questions are important demographic questions about your business and will help us understand the overall survey results.
 
 
 
Please type the year your business was founded in the box below.
   
If your business was incorporated in a different year, please type the incorporation year in the box below.
   
 
 
 
Which sector of the economy does your business predominantly serve?
 
Defense
 
Aerospace
 
Automotive
 
Electronics
 
Consumer goods
 
Serve multiple sectors fairly equally
 
Other
 
 
 
 
What is your business' structure?
 
C- Corp
 
S- Corp
 
LLC
 
Partnership
 
Other
 
 
 
 
What is your business’ primary NAICS code? (NAICS codes replaced SIC codes) (Please type in box below.)
   
Please enter any additional NAICS codes that apply to your business. (Separate with commas.)
   
 
 
 
What best describes the location of your manufacturing operations? Meaning, where are your products made?
 
Only within Connecticut
 
Only outside of Connecticut
 
Both within and outside of Connecticut
 
 
 
In the box below, please type the Connecticut city(s) or town(s) your company's manufacturing operations are located.
   
 
 
 
In the box below, please type the state(s) your company's manufacturing operations are located.
   
 
 
 
In the box below, please type the Connecticut city(s) or town(s) your company's manufacturing operations are located in, as well as the other state(s) your company's manufacturing operations are located.
   
 
 
 
What is your business’ tax reporting period?
 
Calendar Year
 
Other Year End
 
 
 
What is the approximate square footage of the main building of your manufacturing facility. (Main building refers to the part of your facility where your primary product is manufactured.)
 
Less than 5,000 sq. ft.
 
5,000 sq. ft. to less than 10,000 sq. ft.
 
10,000 sq. ft. to less than 20,000 sq. ft.
 
20,000 sq. ft. to less than 30,000 sq. ft.
 
30,000 sq. ft. to less than 40,000 sq. ft.
 
40,000 sq. ft. to less than 50,000 sq. ft.
 
50,000 sq. ft. or more
 
 
 
What is your job title at your company?
 
CEO
 
President
 
CFO
 
Treasurer
 
Human Resources Director
 
Other
 
 
 
You have the option to be contacted with survey results and survey follow-up.  Please indicate your preferences below.

This is the last survey question.  The next screen will offer you the opportunity to enter the random prize drawing.
Yes No
Would you like to be emailed the survey report?
We occasionally receive requests from the media about manufacturing companies in specific Connecticut towns or counties. Would you be willing to speak to a member of the media about this survey and/or your manufacturing business?
Would you be willing to speak to our independent survey contractor about this survey and your manufacturing business?
 
 
 
Please enter your email address in the box below.
   
 
 
 
Please enter your name, email address, and company name in the box below.
   
 
 
 
Would like to enter our random drawing for one of three cash prizes in the amounts of $250, $150, or $100? 
 
Yes
 
No
 
 
 
The email address entered here will ONLY be used to notify you if you win one of the three prizes.