U.S. – This year’s FDMC magazine / Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) benchmark survey, to small and medium size companies, shows shops are optimistic about the economy but still face serious challenges. 

Still, the consensus from most respondents to the survey says they had a better 2015 than 2014, from a business and bottom line perspective, and 2016 looks good.

More than 600 companies from the U.S. and Canada responded to the online survey. As was the case with last year’s FDMC/CMA survey, they reported incorporation of advanced CNC design and manufacturing technology and a need for more formalized training and education as major issues that need to be addressed on a day-to-day basis in order to succeed.

Consistent with the 2015 CMA/FDMC survey results, about 55 percent of responders said they utilize CNC technology in their operations; however, the remaining responders said they are seriously looking at CNC for the near future. Of those who are currently using CNC, 71 percent said CNC has “significantly” affected their manufacturing capacity. And, of that group, 54 percent said CNC integration has “much more” positively affected their profitability.

More than 57 percent of survey respondents said 2015 sales were better than 2014. Some 33 percent said sales were about the same. Less than 10 percent said comparative sales were less for the two successive years.