Benchmarking Reports

Sales Teams and Tools Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines current sales enablement practices across member companies based on a February 2024 quick survey of 55 respondents. The analysis indicates three focus areas: sales enablement and tool adoption, including SharePoint, Salesforce, and Dropbox; sales-team composition and resourcing; and CRM/ERP integration with marketing and data workflows. Emerging patterns show organizations tend to prioritize familiar, internally hosted platforms while adoption of specialized enablement systems generally varies by company size and digital readiness, and charts highlight benchmarks for inside versus external sales mix and training needs. The report reveals where sales and enablement leaders are prioritizing investments to strengthen commercial effectiveness.

2020 Trends in Adoption of Remote Access, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in February 2024, examines how manufacturers are deploying remote connectivity and support tools across operations. Based on a quick early 2024 survey and firmographic benchmarking across revenue bands, the analysis indicates adoption trajectories and staffing trade-offs. Key focus areas include digital-tool adoption and cybersecurity posture, departmental resourcing and knowledge capture from HR and IT to engineering, and operational continuity and version control, including helpdesk, project management, and aftermarket support. Charts highlight comparative staffing and adoption trends, and emerging patterns show larger firms tend to centralize specialized roles. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Benefits Packages at PMMI Member Companies, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines benefits offerings and employer cost-sharing across member firms using a quick survey of OEMs and suppliers across North America conducted in early 2024. The analysis provides benchmark context by revenue bands and focuses on three core areas: insurance and premium coverage (including medical, dental, and vision), retirement and 401(k) contribution practices, and time-off, leave and flexible-work policies (from PTO and bereavement leave to work‑from‑home options). Emerging patterns indicate common approaches to premium sharing and matching contributions and varied PTO structures; charts highlight these comparative trends. The report reveals where member companies are prioritizing benefits investments to strengthen workforce resilience.

Creating SOPs, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in December 2023, examines SOP adoption and perceived value across member organizations. Based on a quick PMMI member survey and benchmarks by company size and revenue, the analysis indicates most organizations document SOPs and generally find benefits outweigh the time investment; responsibility for SOP creation tends to vary from centralized teams to department ownership, with common owners including engineering, human resources, and project management. Focus areas include SOP development, knowledge capture and training, and digital-tool adoption and version control, and charts highlight cross-segment patterns and gaps. Download the full report to learn where organizations are prioritizing SOP investments to strengthen operational consistency and resilience.

ERP/CRM Software Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in December 2023, examines ERP and CRM adoption, usage roles, and integration practices based on a 54‑respondent quick survey across defined revenue bands. The analysis indicates three focus areas: vendor mix and role alignment, including common choices such as Salesforce, Dynamics, and QuickBooks; integration and system architecture, where integration with engineering and mixed file‑server/cloud deployments tend to vary by company size; and cloud adoption with attendant cybersecurity concerns, which charts highlight as a prevalent issue. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Technician Requests during Customer Strikes, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in November 2023, examines how members handle requests to deploy field technicians when customer plants experience operator or maintenance strikes. Drawing on a November 2023 quick survey of PMMI members and benchmarked across revenue bands, the analysis indicates persistent prioritization of technician safety, formal and informal service agreements, and the commercial terms that govern emergency support. Focus areas include workforce safety and staffing readiness, service-agreement design and fee structures, and customer relationship management and expectations, including safety protocols, fee arrangements, and technician willingness; charts highlight variation by company size. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Hybrid/Remote Work Schedules Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in November 2023, examines how member organizations across revenue bands are adopting hybrid and remote policies and the operational effects of those choices. Drawing on a quick survey of industry members, the analysis indicates trade-offs across two core focus areas—workforce and culture (retention, morale, onboarding and perceived fairness) and operational coordination and tools (productivity, collaboration, meeting volume and remote-access workflows, including machine debugging). Charts highlight common challenges such as reduced informal knowledge transfer and scheduling friction, and emerging patterns show firms tend to prioritize clearer meeting governance and digital collaboration tools. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Warranty Practices Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in November 2023, examines warranty terms and vendor service models based on member quick-survey responses across revenue bands and benchmark comparisons. The analysis indicates three focus areas: coverage timing and triggers, warranty scope and service-delivery models, and policy variability and contractual negotiation; emerging patterns show differences by company size and market segment. Charts highlight variability in practices, and examples include shipment versus installation triggers, parts-only versus parts-and-labor coverage, and full versus selective extended warranties. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

24/7 Customer Support Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines how members manage, staff, and monetize round‑the‑clock phone support drawing on an October 2023 quick‑survey of 26 respondents across revenue ranges. The analysis indicates three focus areas: service models and pricing (from yearly contracts to per‑call invoicing), workforce design and compensation (dedicated teams, service teams, shift frequency), and technology standardization and vendor choice (PLC preferences and supplier shifts). Emerging patterns show larger firms tend to offer bundled support while others charge or outsource, and charts highlight staffing and charging benchmarks for peer comparison. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Payment Theft and Fraud Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines member experiences with mailed-payment risk and mitigation practices based on an October 2023 quick survey of PMMI members and benchmarked across revenue segments. The analysis indicates emerging focus areas around payment-method shifts and transaction security, including increased use of electronic transfers and broader card acceptance; mail-handling and logistics controls such as trackable commercial carriers; and operational risk monitoring and frequency benchmarking to guide policy. Charts highlight comparative trends by revenue band and common prevention actions. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Managing Obsolescence, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in October 2023, examines how manufacturers and suppliers manage equipment end-of-life, parts availability, and aftermarket strategies. Drawing on a quick survey of PMMI members across revenue bands and benchmarked against typical lifecycle windows, the analysis indicates varied obsolescence policies and multi-year support horizons. Focus areas include obsolescence planning and lifecycle policy, aftermarket solutions and retrofit approaches including retrofit kits and redesign efforts, and documentation with supplier engagement for parts continuity. Emerging patterns show larger organizations tend to formalize timelines while others manage case-by-case, and charts highlight comparative trends and support-duration ranges. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Best Practice: Transitioning Flexible Materials, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in Summer 2023, examines the operational, technical, and supply-chain considerations for switching flexible films in CPG operations. Drawing on PMMI survey data and insights from an expert solutions group convened via the OpX Leadership Network, the analysis indicates key focus areas: design and development (feasibility, lab testing, regulatory compliance), pilot and equipment decisions (legacy versus new equipment, CAPEX/TCO assessments), and scale-up and operations (supply-chain scaling, preventative maintenance, operator training). Charts highlight comparative benchmarks and emerging patterns that tend to inform decision gates and risk mitigation. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Manufacturing Reps & Insurance Quickie Survey Results, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in May 2023, examines how manufacturers engage independent sales representatives across revenue bands and the contractual and insurance practices that shape risk allocation. Drawn from a member quick survey and qualitative responses, the analysis focuses on three core areas: rep engagement and contract practices, insurance requirements and liability allocation, and channel contribution to revenue. The analysis indicates larger organizations tend to formalize contracts and insurance expectations while smaller firms often rely on informal arrangements, and charts highlight recurring themes such as perceived lack of need and geographic considerations. The report reveals where manufacturing teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen resilience.

On-Time Deliveries Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in April 2023, examines how member companies and suppliers are experiencing delays in machinery and spare-parts deliveries amid ongoing supply-chain disruption. Based on a spring 2023 quick survey and benchmarked against 2021 responses, the analysis indicates three focus areas: supply-chain constraints and component shortages, operational bottlenecks such as ERP transitions and workforce strain, and service-level planning for lead times and spare-parts fulfillment. Charts highlight patterns across revenue bands and membership types, and findings generally show firms tending to prioritize line-down responses and inventory strategies such as safety stock and expedited logistics. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Sales Management Best Practices, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in April 2023, examines member survey data and cross-company benchmarks to assess sales organization design and performance across the packaging and processing sector. The analysis indicates several focus areas — sales structure and product mix (from machines to parts and service), compensation and field activity (including salary-plus-commission models and evolving travel patterns), and enablement practices such as formal training and distributor agreements. Emerging patterns show segmentation by region and account type and differing roles for direct versus indirect channels; charts highlight comparative distributions and compensation approaches. The report reveals where sales leaders are prioritizing investments to strengthen go-to-market resilience.

Field Service Evaluation Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in March 2023, examines member practices for collecting customer feedback on field service performance and operational barriers to adoption. Drawing on a PMMI member survey across revenue bands and qualitative comments, the analysis indicates gaps in formal feedback workflows, varied channel preferences and digital adoption, and resource or process constraints limiting measurement. Focus areas include feedback collection and response workflows, channel and tool use such as email forms, on-site sign-offs, and phone follow-ups, and organizational maturity in documenting and acting on feedback; charts highlight differences by company size. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

New Products Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines how member companies launch and promote new offerings based on a March 2023 quick survey of PMMI members across revenue bands and quarters. Analysis indicates three focus areas: release cadence and development models, from bespoke customer-driven builds to periodic catalog releases; promotion channels and budget allocation, including website postings, organic LinkedIn and customer email alongside varied use of dedicated marketing budgets; and go-to-market timing with trade-show alignment. Charts highlight comparative patterns by revenue band, and emerging patterns show where firms tend to concentrate resources. The report reveals where product and marketing teams are prioritizing investments to accelerate launches and improve market impact.

Service Rates Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines service pricing and billing practices across member organizations, drawing on a survey of PMMI members collected in late 2022 and benchmarked against prior-year responses. The analysis indicates consistent focus areas: special-rate policies for weekends, holidays and overtime; travel and layover billing including door-to-door travel time and delay handling; and rate-adjustment drivers such as inflation and transport costs. Findings also address warranty and contract structuring, technician compensation and per-diem practices; charts highlight variation by company size and revenue bands and emerging patterns tend to favor quoted service. Download the full report to see actionable benchmarks and where service leaders are prioritizing pricing and resource strategy.

Employee PTO Impact on Productivity Snapshot Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in November 2022, examines how paid time off affects production across industry respondents using a snapshot survey of operational leaders. The analysis indicates variability tied to role coverage and timing, with focus areas including staffing and backup depth, PTO scheduling and contingency planning, and expectations for availability and communication; findings generally show that cross‑training and advance planning tend to mitigate delays for specialized roles such as machinists or project managers. Charts highlight comparative patterns between planned and unplanned absences and indicate where teams are prioritizing resilience. Download the full report to see where organizations are directing investments to protect output.

Cash Flow Snapshot Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in June 2022, examines month-over-month shifts in cash-flow pressure among member companies and operational implications of supply-chain disruption. Using member snapshot survey data and month-to-month comparisons, the analysis indicates rising cash strain for many firms while providing benchmark context. Focus areas include cash-flow pressure and short-term liquidity, supply-chain effects such as payment delays and extended vendor lead times, and tactical responses like inventory strategies and contract negotiation. Charts highlight distributions and comparative patterns, with analysis indicating where firms tend to prioritize immediate mitigation versus longer-term resilience. Download the full report to see where leaders are focusing actions to strengthen cash-flow resilience.