Benchmarking Reports

Machinery Shipments Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines year‑over‑year shifts in U.S. packaging and processing machinery shipments between 2019 and 2020 based on a PMMI member survey. The analysis indicates divergent demand across end markets and business sizes, with focus areas including market‑segmentation and demand shifts (for example, food and e‑commerce), operational resilience and backlog dynamics (from booking volatility to shipping and installation delays), and workforce and logistics pressures such as travel restrictions and personnel impacts. Emerging patterns show service and aftermarket revenues behaving differently than core machinery sales, and charts highlight comparative trends by revenue range. The report reveals where engineering and operations teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Marketing Practices Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines marketing strategies among members based on a January 2021 quick survey drawing responses from over 130 organizations across revenue and employee-size bands. The analysis indicates focus areas—team structure and resourcing (in-house versus agency models, role mixes and compensation), channel mix and effectiveness (digital channels including email, LinkedIn and video platforms and traditional channels such as trade shows and brochures), and budget allocation with a near-even digital/traditional split benchmarked by company size. Charts highlight usage patterns and perceived effectiveness, while qualitative comments indicate shifting investment priorities amid event disruption. The report reveals where marketing leaders are prioritizing investments to sharpen go-to-market effectiveness.

Remote Equipment Training Quickie Survey Results, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines remote training adoption among CPG equipment providers based on a November 2020 survey of 52 respondents. The analysis indicates a notable uptake of remote delivery and identifies three focus areas, including digital-tool adoption such as video conferencing, MS Teams and VR/AR, training measurement and maturity from feedback to machine metrics, and service models and pricing. Emerging patterns show limitations around scheduling and equipment complexity that tend to shape delivery and charge models; charts highlight adoption trends, measurement approaches and revenue-band differences. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Pricing Prototype Machinery Survey Results, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in November 2020, examines how manufacturers approach pricing, contract structures, and risk management for first-of-a-kind machines based on a 2020 member survey. The analysis indicates common focus areas include pricing approach and contract design, from set prices to time-and-materials and not-to-exceed terms; risk mitigation and project governance, including engineering orders, proof-of-principle and scope control; and cost recovery strategies and amortization planning. Emerging patterns show firms emphasize customer communication and validation such as proof-of-principle testing and detailed design reviews, and charts highlight trade-offs between commercial entry and technical uncertainty. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Shipping Costs Quickie Survey Results, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in November 2020, examines how member companies approach marking up domestic and international freight and related invoice practices. Drawing on a member survey across revenue bands, the analysis compares policies for machinery versus parts and explores breakout practices for crating and export charges. Focus areas include markup and pricing transparency, shipping-partner sourcing and cost drivers, and operational controls for accessorials and expedited services; emerging patterns indicate firms tend to balance overhead recovery with competitive positioning. Charts highlight variance by company size and shipping type. The report reveals where companies are adjusting pricing practices to protect margins and serve customers.

COVID & OSHA/CCOHS Quickie Survey Results, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines employer practices and familiarity with OSHA and CCOHS guidance using survey responses collected in September 2020 from a cross‑section of manufacturing and processing firms. The analysis indicates uneven familiarity and decision criteria, with focus areas on guidance awareness and reporting thresholds; investigative methods for work‑relatedness such as phone interviews, contact tracing, and proximity interviews; and legal/privacy and operational controls including documentation and site protocols. Comparative context across revenue bands generally shows varied reporting approaches, and charts highlight emerging patterns in practice adoption. The report reveals where health and safety leaders are prioritizing investments to strengthen workplace reporting and outbreak response.

Hiring Challenges in the Workforce Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines hiring dynamics across the packaging and processing sector using an August 2020 quick survey of industry respondents and benchmarking against common recruiting practices. The analysis indicates three focus areas: talent supply and skills gaps, including an aging workforce and shortages in technical roles such as technicians and engineers; recruitment and development strategies, such as collaborating with local schools, internal training, and agency or referral sourcing; and operational impacts and hiring benchmarks, where charts highlight extended time-to-fill, mid-management shortages, and regional variation. Download the full report to discover where organizations are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

ERP Satisfaction Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in August 2020, examines ERP deployment, versioning, integration and user satisfaction among OEMs across revenue segments. Drawing on survey responses and comparative benchmarks across revenue ranges, the analysis indicates focus areas such as adoption and lifecycle management from version updates to on‑premise versus cloud choices, integration and third‑party compatibility such as API connectivity, reporting and analytics including custom‑reporting usability, implementation and support from deployment complexity to vendor service, and module‑level performance across engineering, accounting and CRM/MRP. Charts highlight consistent tradeoffs, and the analysis shows where priorities tend to concentrate. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

IIoT Monitoring Quickie Survey Results, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines trends in industrial IoT adoption across PMMI member companies using an August 2020 survey and qualitative vendor feedback. The analysis indicates shifts in maintenance strategy and predictive-analytics adoption, grouped into focus areas: maintenance strategy and predictive analytics (from corrective to condition-based approaches), deployment and supplier roles (start-small implementations and embedded component data), and monitoring priorities and data use (machine performance, failure detection, productivity). Emerging patterns show common barriers—customer buy-in, IT/security and engineering effort—and charts highlight comparative responses across company sizes; the report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Accounting Practices Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines prevailing general and inventory accounting approaches across manufacturing firms using a June 2020 industry survey. The analysis situates practices within revenue bands and draws on verbatim responses and benchmark comparisons to spotlight three focus areas: accounting method and revenue recognition practices, including completion and hybrid approaches; software and ERP adoption and satisfaction, from QuickBooks to Syteline and SAP; and close-cycle timing and staffing models, such as bookkeeper/controller versus CFO oversight. Emerging patterns indicate trade-offs between integration and usability, and charts highlight variability in implementation and satisfaction. The report reveals where finance and operations teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Staying in Touch with International Customers: Quickie Survey Results, July 2020, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines how member companies maintained sales, service and market development with international customers during pandemic-related travel restrictions. Drawing on a July 2020 member survey across revenue cohorts, the analysis indicates three focus areas—communication and remote-service adoption, including email, phone and video conferencing; agent and local-resource strategies such as distributors and regional service technicians; and sales and marketing adjustments to pursue new business. Comparative charts highlight patterns by company size and mitigation tactics, and emerging findings generally show greater reliance on virtual tools and local partners. The report reveals where companies are prioritizing investments to strengthen international customer resilience.

CPG Safety Requirements for Plant and Office Access, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines COVID-era entry protocols and company policies across plants and offices using a June 2020 quick-survey of industry respondents. Focus areas include policy coverage and compliance; visitor screening and PPE protocols, such as mask use, temperature checks, and arrival questionnaires; quarantine and access-restriction practices; and visitor tracking alongside operational segregation to limit exposure. Comparative context and benchmarks contrast plant versus office approaches, and analysis indicates firms tend to favor stringent entry controls and selective access; charts highlight prevalent patterns. The report reveals where companies are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Recall Insurance Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines recall insurance adoption and attitudes among CPG suppliers based on a June 2020 quick survey across revenue bands. The analysis indicates three focus areas—insurance adoption and perceived necessity, including coverage choices and renewal intent; contractual risk allocation and customer-driven requirements; and operational readiness and awareness such as sourcing coverage and claims experience. Comparative benchmarks contrast smaller and larger suppliers and emerging patterns show where awareness or contractual practice tends to diverge; charts highlight these trends without prescriptive recommendations. The report reveals where companies are prioritizing risk-transfer and contractual strategies to bolster supply-chain resilience.

Rush Premiums Quickie Survey Results, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines industry practices around expedited parts pricing based on a June 2020 quick survey of respondents and qualitative verbatim comments. The analysis indicates patterns across machinery-price segments and compares approaches to fee determination, with focus areas on pricing structures (including vendor expedite fees and percentage or flat-markup approaches), customer segmentation and contractual dynamics (such as relationship, volume and negotiation practices), and cost recovery and flexibility (from overtime and transportation pass-throughs to fee waivers when service falls short). Charts highlight cross-segment variation and emerging patterns that tend to favor case-by-case policies. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Metric and Imperial Measurements in Manufacturing Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines April 2020 quick‑survey responses from OEMs and suppliers to assess how measurement standards influence design, sourcing and sales across revenue bands and regions. The analysis indicates export orientation and global acceptance tend to drive metric adoption, while product‑configuration choices (full metric, hybrid, hard versus soft conversions) shape component strategies such as fasteners, change parts and bearings. Comparative benchmarks across regional markets and pricing approaches generally show pricing parity but reveal trade‑offs in SKUs, parts availability and service; charts highlight these recurring patterns. The report reveals where manufacturers are prioritizing investments to balance global market access and operational efficiency.

Safety Shoes Policy Quickie Survey Results, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in April 2020, examines manufacturer safety-footwear practices and policies across plant roles and revenue cohorts using a targeted industry survey and revenue-segment comparisons. The analysis indicates several focus areas—policy scope and enforcement (area- versus job-based rules), activity-driven requirements from machine building to wiring and testing, and provision models and reimbursement limits such as company-issued footwear versus employee reimbursement. Findings generally show variation by facility type and size, and charts highlight differences in visitor requirements and supply approaches. Download the full report to understand where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

PLC Security Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines password practices, access-sharing and post-shipment program control among machinery OEMs, drawing on a March 2020 industry survey of equipment manufacturers across revenue bands. The analysis indicates focus areas including access controls and customer permissions, contractual protections and service implications such as NDAs and warranty language, and revision-tracking and digital-tool adoption from remote routers to ERP and cloud workflows. Emerging patterns show companies tend to protect HMIs and PLCs but vary in documentation, distribution format and formal version control; charts highlight persistent gaps in governance and traceability. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Coronavirus Protocol Quickie Survey Results, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines OEM and CPG responses during the early COVID‑19 period, based on a member survey fielded March 11–15, 2020 across revenue and staff‑size cohorts. The analysis indicates several focus areas—access restrictions and contingency planning, remote-support and digital-tool adoption, and internal communication and travel policies—where companies generally show varying approaches by size and market segment. Emerging patterns show firms turning to telephone assistance, video conferencing and remote equipment access as interim solutions, and charts highlight comparative response patterns by company revenue and headcount. The report reveals where engineering teams are prioritizing investments to strengthen operational resilience.

Sales Management Best Practices Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies in February 2020, examines sales organization structures, compensation and training practices, distributor and OEM relationships, and international go-to-market strategies based on a member-only survey of PMMI companies and benchmarking across revenue bands. Key focus areas include workforce development and retention, formal sales training and compensation models, channel management and territory assignments, and digital tools and performance analytics; the analysis indicates companies with formal training tend to show greater sales coverage efficiency and emerging patterns indicate varied commission and discount approaches across channels. Charts highlight segmentation and compensation trends, and the report reveals where sales leaders are prioritizing investments to strengthen go-to-market effectiveness.

Third‑party Compliance Quickie Survey, published by PMMI – The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, examines how members manage CPG customer requests to engage third‑party compliance providers. Drawing on a January 2020 PMMI member survey across revenue bands and qualitative responses, the analysis indicates three focus areas: workforce allocation and time commitment, subscription and cost management, and perceived value versus administrative burden. Charts highlight practices such as portal maintenance, document collection, and customer liaison, and findings generally show limited dedicated staffing and varied approaches by company size and subscription status. Download the full report to see where OEMs are prioritizing investments to reduce compliance friction and strengthen operational resilience.