2025年美国制造业全景调研报告_44页_2mb

Nationwide State of Manufacturing Summary (May 2025)

Core Content

The Nationwide State of Manufacturing survey, conducted in April 2025, provides insights into the current state and future outlook of U.S. manufacturing businesses and their relationship with independent insurance agents. The survey targets business decision makers (BDMs) in small and middle-market manufacturing firms with a minimum of $5M in annual revenue and 50+ employees, as well as independent insurance agents who work with manufacturing clients.

Main Findings

Optimism Amidst Concerns

• 80% of manufacturers rate current business conditions as good or excellent.
• 80% report a positive outlook for the next 12 months.
• 59% of insurance agents share a similar positive outlook for their manufacturing clients.
• 67% of manufacturers are concerned about inflation, tariffs, and high interest rates.
• 64% of manufacturers describe workforce attraction/retention as a serious challenge now and in the future.

Tariff Impact and Response

• 68% of manufacturers are concerned about increased raw material costs due to tariffs.
• 63% are worried about raising prices and the impact on profit margins.
• 49% are increasing inventory levels.
• 41% are investing in domestic manufacturing.
• 40% are diversifying suppliers.
• 32% are passing costs to customers.
• 44% are doing a combination of absorbing costs and raising prices.
• 65% of agents believe their clients plan to pass costs to customers.
• 61% of manufacturers cite supply chain disruptions as a serious challenge currently.
• 66% are concerned about supply chain disruptions in the future.

Supply Chain Resilience

• 64% of manufacturers are diversifying suppliers.
• 52% are frontloading inventory.
• 48% have updated business continuity planning.
• 45% are consulting with insurance agents for coverage.
• 8 in 10 manufacturers are turning to or considering more domestic suppliers due to tariffs and geopolitical instability.
• 55% of manufacturers are sourcing from multiple suppliers or using dual sourcing strategies.

Workforce Challenges

• 37% of manufacturers cite attracting and retaining qualified employees as a top challenge.
• 34% highlight the need for training/upskilling.
• 29% are concerned about employee productivity.
• 2 in 3 manufacturers find it difficult to attract younger workers with the right skills.
• Younger people often do not consider manufacturing as a viable career path (67%).

Technology Adoption

• 91% of manufacturers have adopted inventory management systems.
• 83% have adopted IoT solutions.
• 49% see technology investment, especially in AI, as the biggest business opportunity.
• 47% report improved operational efficiency from AI.
• 44% report financial savings from AI.
• 41% of manufacturers cite cost as the biggest barrier to AI adoption.
• 38% face difficulties integrating AI into existing systems.
• 37% lack expertise in AI.
• 35% are concerned about AI performance.
• 33% have ethical concerns about AI.
• 30% are worried about product defects.
• 30% face resistance from employees.
• 27% do not see perceived value in AI.

Regulatory Challenges

• 75% of manufacturers are concerned about regulatory disruptions.
• 89% report their businesses have been impacted by recent regulations.
• 71% of manufacturers are very/extremely knowledgeable about federal/state regulations.
• 93% of agents report their clients are knowledgeable about regulations.
• 96% of agents say their clients have been impacted by regulatory changes.
• Top impacts include increased compliance costs (45%), difficulty sourcing materials (43%), and increased focus on data privacy and cybersecurity (43%).

Insurance and Risk Management

• 75% of agents say over half of their manufacturing clients have a business interruption plan.
• 9 in 10 agents regularly discuss policy endorsement options with their clients.
• 75% of agents report an increase in client interest in revising business interruption coverage.
• Three quarters of agents say their clients are revising existing business interruption policies or plans.

Key Information

• Survey Methodology: 15-minute online survey fielded between April 4th and April 21st, 2025, with N=400 manufacturing BDMs and independent insurance agents.
• Technology Investment: AI is seen as the biggest business opportunity, with most manufacturers already using inventory management and IoT.
• Tariff Response: While manufacturers are concerned about costs, they are also taking steps to mitigate risks, such as increasing inventory and diversifying suppliers.
• Workforce Trends: Attraction and retention of younger workers is a major challenge.
• Regulatory Impact: Compliance costs, sourcing challenges, and cybersecurity are the top regulatory impacts.
• Insurance Role: Agents play a crucial role in helping manufacturers manage risks and update insurance policies.

Summary Table of Key Findings

Conclusion

Manufacturers remain optimistic about their business prospects despite facing significant challenges related to inflation, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and workforce issues. Technology, particularly AI, is seen as a key opportunity for growth, though adoption is hindered by cost and integration concerns. Agents are increasingly involved in advising manufacturers on risk mitigation and regulatory compliance, highlighting the importance of collaboration in navigating the current business landscape.