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International Competitiveness Study

UK Manufacturing 2006

International Competitiveness StudyMany UK manufacturers have found the pasy few years to be a challenging time. Not least because of intense international competition from regions such as Eastern Europe and China. Keeping pace with this global competition will be the key to future success.

With this in mind Benchmark Research Ltd conducted a survey to investigate how UK engineering companies were responding to these global pressures. We were particularly keen to look at the kind of strategies different companies had adopted and, which approaches had proved most successful.

We completed a survey of 316 senior executives in UK engineering businesses, on the theme of international competitiveness. A very basic summary of the results appeared in a special DTI sponsored edition of Works Management

The full results are now publicly available in the form of a detailed report, for just £75


Despite the pressures faced by UK engineering - our survey found that a small number of companies are thriving! The proportion may be low - 20% - but this minority clearly believe that they are outpeforming their main competitors. In fact they are...

  • 2.6 times more likely to have grown their sales revenues in the past 3 years.
  • 2.2 times more likely to have experience growth in profits.
  • 1.8 times more likely to have increased market share.
  • 6.7 times more likely to say they are performing strongly in terms of sales and marketing.
  • 5.1 times more likely to say they are performing strongly in terms of production & manufacturing.
  • 4 times more likely to say they are performing strongly in terms of R&D.

Our report highlights the key differences in strategy and approach taken by these companies - shedding light on the recipe for success followed by the UK's 20% best performing engineering businesses.

The report looks at a range of issues in some detail. These include:

  • Strengths & weaknesses of UK engineering vs. international competitors operating in Eastern Europe, Germany, USA, China & Japan.
  • Key strategies & investment priorities. 20 different factors are considered.
  • The R&D process: including details of problems experienced and strategies pursued. The survey looks at 32 different factors.
  • Production/Manufacturing - looking at 28 factors.
  • Sales & Marketing - looking at 27 factors.

The report groups participants into three categories, based on performance in terms of profits, sales growth, production, marketing and R&D - strongest performers, average performers and struggling companies. Differences between these groups are highlighted for each factor measured.

If you would like to order your copy of the International Competitiveness in UK Manufacturing Report 2006, or if you would like us to send you more information about its contents, please click on a link below.

Order a copy now online for £75


Request further information about the report first.