IT Strategies

Manufacturing Insights' IT Strategies research advisory service provides continuous coverage and analysis of IT budget allocation and investments made by organizations across all manufacturing segments. Each quarter, Manufacturing Insights publishes data from its Global Manufacturing Performance database, made up of more than 850 companies from around the world, to assess industry health and the impact on IT spending. The analysis of industry health is augmented by data from our substantial survey work on hardware, software, and services spending.

Approach

This advisory service develops unique analysis and comprehensive data through Manufacturing Insights' proprietary research projects, along with ongoing communications with industry experts, manufacturing executives and practitioners, and product and service vendors.

To ensure relevance, our analysts work with subscribers to identify and prioritize specific topics to be covered in research reports. Our analysts are also available to provide individualized advice for manufacturing executives and vendors to help both types of firms make better-informed decisions.

Topics Addressed

The IT Strategies advisory service covers a broad range of segments and topics, including:

• Asset-oriented value chains for industries characterized by large plant investments for the continuous production of base materials such as chemicals, metals, pulp/paper, and construction materials
• Engineering-oriented value chains for industries driven by highly engineered products such as automotive, aerospace, machinery/equipment, and consumer durables
• Technology-oriented value chains for industries driven by specific, rapidly evolving technologies such as consumer electronics, high-tech equipment, semiconductors, and electronic manufacturing services
• Brand-oriented value chains for industries driven by branded, fast-moving products such as apparel, food/beverage, health/beauty, and general packaged goods
• Budget benchmarks, including hardware, software, and services
• Innovation strategies for supporting global operations

Key Questions Answered

Our research addresses the following issues that are critical to your success:

• How does IT spending on internal staff versus external spending compare?
• What levels of hardware, software, and IT services strategies are being adopted for desktop versus laptop versus thin client?
• Which company initiatives or policies related to environmental or green issues are becoming the norm?
• Within the dynamic global environment and continual supply chain cost pressures in sourcing and transportation, what innovative strategies are best in class for supporting global operations?

Who Should Subscribe

The Manufacturing Insights' IT Strategies advisory service is ideally suited to support the needs of CIOs and senior IT executives in all manufacturing segments. Solutions providers will find this service valuable for gaining additional insight into the ongoing economic health of the segments and how those segments approach allocating their IT dollars.

Return on Research Investment

• Benchmarks for comparing individual spending with industry aggregate values
• Recommendations for aligning priorities and critical investment areas with the organization's innovation goals
• Ongoing monitoring that provides advanced indicators of the need to stem or accelerate spending
• Guidance for using the information to better differentiate the IT organization and deliver competitive advantage

Standard Subscription Deliverables

Manufacturing Insights values building client relationships and strives to foster a partnership with each client through continuous analyst interaction; concise delivery of current, timely, and relevant research; as well as custom research when needed. Each advisory service delivers strategic research covering business and technology issues. A summary of the basic service deliverables available to subscribers includes the following:

• Analyst inquiry time specific to the advisory service area
• 24 x 7 research access via manufacturing-insights.com
• Discounted admission to specific Manufacturing Insights or IDC conferences
• Complimentary forum invitations (Webcasts, telebriefings, industry briefings)
• Dedicated client service representatives

Lead Analyst

The Manufacturing Insights' IT Strategies advisory service is led by Bob Parker, Vice President of Research. This service is a collaborative effort drawing on the industry-specific expertise of our global analysts in automotive, aerospace, consumer products, high-tech, and chemicals. Before entering the research field, Parker spent more than 15 years in technology and operations management. He was Managing Director at TDI, a technology-based company that included distribution, systems integration, and ISP businesses; Corporate CIO at Eastern Technologies, serving the defense and commercial vehicle industries; and Division CIO at Acoustic Research.

Related Offerings

Related offerings to our industry-specific research practices include IT Spending Guides - segmented regional and country-level analysis by solution area; Go-To-Market Services (GMS) - a modular set of deliverables to assist clients in extending their market reach, validating their market strategy, and producing more responsive customer-centric marketing campaigns; Global IT Advisor (GITA) - a flexible, cross-disciplinary research service providing granularity in market information and analysis across a wide range of technology areas; and IT Management Service (ITMS) - a best-practices research service covering IT governance, portfolio management, vendor procurement, and more. In addition, Manufacturing Insights experts are available for individualized consulting engagements to address specific challenges or to customize the results of our syndicated research offerings.