The National Association of Manufacturers/Industry Week business outlook survey of companies for the second quarter of 2007 indicates a rising positive outlook for the next 12 months.
The organization released the survey Aug. 7.
Of the 293 association members surveyed, 80 percent of large companies, and 79 percent of small manufacturers had a positive outlook for the second quarter of 2007. This is up from the numbers of 78 percent of large and 77 percent of small manufacturers showing a positive outlook for the first quarter.
HK Plastics Engineering Inc., an Oceanside company specializing in plastic injection molding, also has a positive outlook on the next 12 months. “We have a lot of new tooling projects, which usually indicates a coming rise in production,” said Ron Krippner, sales manager.
Kevin Stotmeister, chief executive officer of Oceanside-based Federal Heath Sign Co. LLC, said he felt “very positive for the rest of the year.” He stated that the company, which installs and manufactures large electrical signs, has received a lot of survey and consulting requests. “Activity is high right now,” he said. “That correlates to more production coming.”
Among the reasons cited for the positive outlook in the NAM survey were anticipated growing sales, more foreseen pricing power, wage increases and rising investment.
NAM identified large manufacturers as those employing more than 1,000 workers, while small manufacturers employ fewer than 1,000.
, Preet Anand
