Deloitte industrial manufacturing outlook tracks digitalization's steady march

摘要

THE INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING industry is in a unique position in the coming year, according to Deloitte's "2019 Outlook on Industrial Manufacturing." The outlook indicates that although output, utilization and financial performance are up, trade tensions are causing doubt, skilled talent is in short supply, and supply chains are struggling to match demand. Deloitte's Paul Wellener, leader of the U.S. Industrial Products and Services practice, said job numbers remain strong, revisions notwithstanding, and he remains pleased with the momentum he sees across the industry. "It's a solid time period to be a U.S. or even global manufacturer," he said. "Despite some talk of a slowdown, we and our customers' businesses are looking strong for 2019." The outlook supports the findings of Deloitte's skills gap and digital frontrunner studies, Wellener said, which indicate increased adoption of digital technologies in manufacturing. He noted more spending in areas like automation, robotics, connectedness, Internet of Things and devices.