The Status of the Metalworking Industry

How global events are reshaping North American manufacturing

The unexpected effects of the global pandemic have inevitably projected the manufacturing industry into a state of uncertainty. As a return to normal economic and business conditions is not foreseeable in the near future, metalworkers are striving to adapt and evolve to stay competitive and profitable.

Practical Machinist dove deep into these challenges to identify the key factors that make modern machine shops successful and shed some light on how global events, the economic environment and advancements in technology are impacting the industry at an individual company level.

Key topics addressed in this report include:

• The main challenges that metalworking businesses are facing
• Business conditions over the past year and expected outlook for 2021
• How manufacturers are investing in their workforce
• How the coronavirus pandemic has affected business performance and industry events
• The impact of new or upgraded equipment, additive manufacturing and automation on productivity
• Buying behavior and how manufacturers conduct research before investing in new equipment