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Voice of the

Manufacturing
Manager 2023

   

 

         


   
 
     
   
      
     
 
     
                      
    
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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 ‡  

Our respondents gave us the following insights into the


challenges and opportunities that manufacturing leaders
are facing today.
Engagement in the Workplace
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Leadership Priorities and Challenges


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More Technology and Modernization


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Developing the Skills to Use That Technology


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Table of Contents
Part #1    ˆ‰  
Part #2 Šˆ‹ŒŒ
Part #3 Ž  Ž † 
Part #4    ‰‘
Part #5    ‰
‘
Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 † †Œ  

Methodology and Participant Demographics


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 † †Œ  



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52% say morale at their current company is high


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 † †Œ  

More than half (209) have been at their company for 6+ years
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Majority (251) have worked in manufacturing for 5-10 years, 125 for
more than 10 years
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Part #1
Technology &
Modernization
Manufacturing companies who want to stay
competitive today and into the future must keep up
with new and evolving tools and technology. Today,
more manufacturing companies are leveraging big
data, AI, digital management platforms, and other
modern tools.

Here’s a brief overview of what we learned:


58% say their company is “very modern”
Over half are heavily embracing automation,
sustainability, digitization, and other initiatives
55% are investing in new technology more than ever
Modernization helps increase productivity, improve
efficiency, and reduce costs
Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›” 

61% are heavily embracing automation


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61% are heavily embracing data accessibility


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59% are heavily embracing sustainability


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›” 

59% are heavily embracing flexibility


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58% are heavily embracing digitization


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56% are heavily embracing employee user experience


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›” 

55% are heavily embracing collaboration


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55% are investing in new technology more than ever


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58% say their company is “very modern” compared to others in their


industry
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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›” 

Top Five Modern Technologies and Tools


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›” 

Top Three Modernization Improvements


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67% say their company embraces a data-first strategy


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›” 

Top Three Benefits of a Data-First Strategy


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Part #2
Upskilling &
New Skill Sets
Manufacturing leaders who are committed to
becoming industry leaders know that it starts by
having a well-trained workforce, equipped with the
right technology, and able to do their jobs safely and
efficiently. One of the ways to do that is through a
commitment to upskilling, or increasing a worker’s
skillset to help them improve in their current role.

Here’s a brief overview of what we learned:


Three out of four companies are prioritizing upskilling
their employees
The top upskilling initiative providing access to an
online training platform
Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›’ 

77% say their company is making upskilling a priority for workers


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Top Three Upskilling Initiatives


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Part #3
Day-to-Day
Work
Manufacturing leaders are tasked with a number of
responsibilities to keep their organizations running,
from ensuring that new hires are properly trained to
getting a product in the hands of customers on time.
But that work — and the enjoyment of that work —
can be impacted by a number of factors that can
make the day go smoothly or turbulently.

Here’s a brief overview of what we learned:


Two out of three manufacturing leaders say morale is high
Top reasons for high morale include more paid time off
and employee recognition
Their biggest challenges are hitting production targets
and managing diverse teams
63% say sustainability is a higher priority than ever
61% say integrating innovative technology is a higher
priority than ever
Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›• 

64% rate morale as high at their company


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Top Five Reasons for High Morale


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›• 

Top Five Initiatives to Create a Better Work Environment


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›• 

Top Five Most Enjoyable Aspects of Work


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79% are giving raises up to 5%


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›• 

Top Four Daily Manufacturing Challenges


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›• 

Top Five Priorities for Manufacturing Leaders


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›• 

63% say sustainability is a higher priority than ever


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62% say the integration of innovative technology is a higher priority


than ever
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Section Summary

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Part #4
Outlook of
Manufacturing
Leadership
What does the future hold for manufacturing
leaders? It’s clear that manufacturing companies
will need to invest in the right technologies and
talents in order to keep pace with innovation and
stay ahead of the industry.

Here’s a brief overview of what we learned:


Six out of ten anticipate their budgets for talent,
technology, and sustainability will increase
71% believe automation will change their current job
Most plan to stay at their current employer and not
switch jobs
One-third say turnover has decreased
Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›­ 

Top Five Skills to Look for When Hiring


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›­ 

60% anticipate their budget for talent will increase


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62% anticipate their budget for technologies will increase


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61% anticipate their budget for sustainability will increase


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›­ 

71% believe automation will change their current job


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81% plan to stay at their job for the next 12 months



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44% say turnover has stayed the same


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›­ 

28% said they would take a pay cut to go work in a more


technology-driven factory
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29% said they would take a pay cut to go work in a more sustainable
factory
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Section Summary

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Part #5
Actionable
Takeaways For
Manufacturing
Leadership
Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›˜ 

Manufacturing leaders who want their companies to be at


the forefront of their industry can look at a number of areas
to continuously improve, and can incorporate the following
takeaways into their strategies going forward.

Attract talent with technology and sustainability:


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Prioritize increasing morale and engagement:


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Provide opportunities for upskilling:


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Listen to employees and address issues:


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Voice of the Manufacturing Manager 2023 š›˜ 

Continue to modernize your company:


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Solve your biggest challenges with technology:


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Evaluate where new tech fits in and have a plan for implementation:
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Embrace a data-first strategy:


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Conclusion
  
 
                  
                    
         
  
  
Voice of the
Manufacturing
Manager 2023
About Epicor
•    Šƒ„ ­  „  ƒ   
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