Take the 2023 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey

Products Finishing has announced the opening of the 2023 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey as of February 1. The program is designed to aid finishing shops in measuring their key operating metrics and assessing how their business compares to others in the industry.

“This is the 8^th year that Products Finishing has conducted its Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, providing industrial finishers with helpful data for assessing their shop performance among their peers in the industry,” says Products Finishing editor-in-chief Scott Francis. “Some of our Top Shops have participated in the survey since its inaugural year.”

Launched in 2015, Top Shops has been a great success in helping finishers optimize shop floor practices and improve business operations. Each year, hundreds of shops participate in the benchmarking survey, resulting in a wealth of data and statistics that allow participants to assess areas of improvement from finishing technology to performance and practices to business strategy and human resources.

The Top Shops Survey is conducted by Gardner Intelligence, the research and data analysis division of Products Finishing’s parent organization, Gardner Business Media. Jan Schafer, director of market research for Gardner Intelligence says:

“It is human nature to be interested in knowing how your performance compares to that of your peers. Starting in the first grade, that perspective comes in the form of grades, an evaluation system that sticks for 12+ years. Top Shops recognizes the staying power of that all-important ‘relative performance’ aspect of human nature, offering a one-of-a-kind solution that delivers it for manufacturing. 

“We hear at industry events, association meetings, and shop visits that Top Shops data make for a key tool that is regularly considered in the development of shop strategies and action plans. An inherent bonus is that any shop participating in Top Shops may be designated a Top Shop or selected for special recognition. That is because questions are designed to create a level playing field so any shop can stand out on performance.

“In every way, Top Shops is designed for you. It is yours to leverage. Keep the feedback coming and we will continue to address the ways you tell us to make Top Shops optimally relevant and useful.”

A wealth of data

Products Finishing has Top Shops surveys in two finishing categories: Electroplating/Anodizing and Powder Coating/Liquid Coatings, and encourages operations to take the appropriate survey(s) based on their capabilities (you may take both). Each in-depth survey measures a variety of manufacturing metrics for the facility reported, including scrap rate, order lead time, capacity utilization, on-time delivery rate, quality, capital spending, customer retention, sales per employee, sales growth, profit margin, inventory, machine uptime, wages, labor turnover, supply chain practices, marketing practices, certifications and more. The survey also asks, among other things, profile questions like industries served, as well as materials, processes, tooling types and inspection technology used.

Get results

Each sufficiently participating shop receives a customized report showing responses they entered along with responses from other participating shops. This relative read indicates how other shops are performing, often providing evidence, especially from Top Shops, that higher levels of performance are attainable. The report also indicates which metrics stand out for a shop so they can be sure to maintain their strengths. 

Benefits

Top Shop Benchmarking Survey participants receive a Custom Benchmarking Report. Using your report, you can assess the effectiveness and efficiency of your manufacturing operations, identify optimal shop floor practices and gain insight to apply in your strategic planning processes.

Achieving Top Shops Status is one of the most coveted and prominent accolades in the industry today; being a Top Shop recognizes those who perform the best and have business practices to be emulated.

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Take the surveys:

Plating & Anodizing: topshops.pfonline.com/plating

Liquid & Powder Coating: topshops.pfonline.com/coating