MachineryLink

Manufacturers See Some Improvement, But Big Hurdles Remain

Dan Miller
By  Dan Miller , Progressive Farmer Senior Editor
Even if the pandemic lasts three to six more months, one in six respondents to the AEM survey say they would be able to immediately resume normal operations. Only 4.8% of those responding to AEM's first COVID survey in April said a return to normal operations would be possible. (Photo courtesy of John Deere)

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to take a toll on off-road equipment manufacturers, a sector that accounts for 12% of the U.S. manufacturing sector. Results of a new poll taken by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) show that three-quarters of U.S. equipment manufacturers say the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the overall economy remains very negative to the business environment.

However, as gloomy as that is, the second of AEM's pandemic-related surveys of presidents, CEOs, and owners of leading equipment manufacturers, also show sentiments from here forward a bit -- and only a bit -- improved over the inaugural survey taken in April.

For example, executives are more confident that they can resume normal operations even if the COVID-19 pandemic lasts another three to six months. Slightly more than one in six (17%) respondents said that they would be able to immediately resume normal operations (compared to 4.8% in April).

More than one in three (36%) of respondents said they can resume normal operations within three months (compared to 44% in April). More than a quarter (28%) of respondents indicated that they can be back to normal within the year (compared to 42% in April).

As the country navigates the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors have largely remained open and continue to supply the equipment.

This survey was in the field from May 28 to June 15, 2020 and gathered 102 responses. Compared with the results from AEM's first COVID-19 survey (April 16 to April 27), most metrics have improved. However, equipment manufacturers continue to face significant challenges as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the economy.

"We have seen some improvements to the operations and financial outlook for our member companies, but the industry still faces a long road back to normal," said Dennis Slater, president of AEM. "Even as our industry continues to help build, feed, and power our country, far too many of our member companies are running out of time."

Many equipment manufacturers struggle to keep workers on the job. Eight out of 10 executives say they will not be able to rehire workers laid off earlier in the year.

Here are other key findings from the survey:

-- One-third of respondents said they plan to lower their financial outlook by up to 30% over the next 30 days. Another one in eight respondents indicated they expect to reduce their outlook for the rest of the year by up to 30%.

-- Employee health and well-being, lack of new orders, and continued supply chain challenges are the three biggest issues manufacturers face.

-- Six in 10 executives say that the federal government has not done enough to support the industry as it continues to face decreased demand and disrupted supply chains.

-- More than one-third of respondents said they have furloughed up to half of their employees, while roughly one in five of respondents indicated that they have laid off as many as 10% of their workforce.

-- Seven percent of respondents said they plan to lower their financial outlook by more than 30% (compared to 11% in April), while one in three (33%) respondents said they plan to reduce their financial outlook by between 11% and 30% (compared to 61% in April). More than a quarter (27%) of respondents said that no revision is needed for the remainder of the year.

-- The three biggest issues facing equipment manufacturers as they reopen their facilities are: employee health and well-being, a lack of new orders, and continued supply chain issues. More than one-third of respondents reveal they have furloughed up to half of their employees, while almost one in 10 of respondents indicated that they have furloughed at least half of their employees.

Just more than half of the companies that participated in the survey manufacture heavy equipment, while about one in six build light equipment, and almost a third make components and/or attachments. Eight out of 10 respondents identified construction as a primary segment, while just under half cited agriculture as a primary segment. Two-thirds of the companies employ fewer than 500 employees, while just over one quarter employ more than 1,000 employees.

AEM is the North American-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers, including more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors. The equipment manufacturing industry in the United States supports 2.8 million jobs and contributes roughly $288 billion annually to the U.S. economy.

Dan Miller can be reached at dan.miller@dtn.com

Follow him on Twitter @DMillerPF

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