Operations Management — Finding Industry Information
STEP #2
It is critical to understand your company's industry. For this assignment, you will be focusing on how the industry is performing. What are the trends in the industry? What threats does this industry face? How competitive is your industry, is it easy to enter? Are there government regulations that impact this industry?
Industry Overviews
The Goizueta Business Library offers you 4 databases that are excellent starting points for intelligence about how your industry works and competes within the marketplace.
Over 200 Industry Profiles on small and large industries. These 12- to 15-page reports cover the industry's competitive landscape, operations & technology, regulations, challenges, trends and financial performance
- Find the password in Library Information
- Click the customer login button in the upper right corner
- Search by keyword, SIC or NAICS code or simply click on a Profile Sector and browse
Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage
S&P's NetAdvantage offers 50+ industry overviews and presents aggregate data, market share and key players, with analysis drawn from reputable sources and publications.
- Under Quick Links - right panel opening page, use drop down box to view all industry surveys.
- Key sections:
- Current Environment
- Trends
- How the industry operates
- Ratios & Statistics
- Glossary/Terminology
- Industry References
- Identifies primary industry associations, trade journals and government agencies
- Comparative Company Analysis (public companies only)
Marketline Business Information Centre
Marketline Business Information Centre is a UK-based company that covers 2000 industries. The reports include market share and segmentation, competitive landscape and market forecasts. Industry reports are done at the country, region and global level.
- Click on Browse Industries and then select an industry of your choice
Locate industry reports for consumer products in categories such as: automotive, food, travel, clothing/fashion, health/medical, beauty/personal, household products and more. Reports analyze market sizes and trends, market segmentation, consumer attitudes, purchasing habits, and the future of the market. Majority of reports are from the US and UK, some European coverage.
- First time user must register
- Click Report Categories in upper left to see the variety of topics
- Alternatively, use search bar. Put phrases in quotes
Associations
Many industry associations publish useful information. Some of this information is free or relatively inexpensive; however, a certain amount is only available to their membership. Look to association web sites for the following types of information:
- Industry trends and outlook
- Best practices and benchmarking studies
- Special publications and trade journals
Associations Unlimited Database
This is a comprehensive collection of information about and links to local, state, U.S. national, and international associations and interest groups.
- Click on the link to ASSOCIATION NAME OR ACRONYM SEARCH
- ASSOCIATION NAME box: type "industry name"
- Example: restaurant
Click on Associations in this Guide to locate Supply Chain Managment associations.
Government Industry Data
The U.S. government is one of our primary sources of aggregate industry data. Government census data can help you benchmark your company against its sector based on its size as defined by number of establishments, employees and sales by geographic location.
There are many applications for government data, for example: your target company has operational issues related to its location or there are economic factors related to changes in the demographics of its region or the region of its clients or competitors.
TIP: Since government census data is organized by the industry NAICS or SIC Code, begin by looking up the correct codes.
Census Bureau Economic Programs
This is the Business Tab on the Census site and contains economic data by various sectors such as: Construction, Manufacturing, Mining, Retail Trade, Services, Transportation and more.
Economic Census
The Economic Census profiles the US economy every 5 years, from the national to the local level.
The Economic Census is collected in years that end in 2 and 7 with data published during the ensuing time period. For most sectors, there are also annual surveys, with aggregated data available in .pdf reports organized industry sector, state, or survey type. There is additional data for the census years, organized by geographic level.
Guide to the Economic Census includes information on what data is collected and at what level of detail.
Industry Series reports includes reports on 651 industries ublished on a rolling schedule.
CENSTATS
The Censtats databases present annual data reported for interim, non-census years, collected at the county, zip code, and metropolitan local levels.
County Business Patterns
- Total number of establishments and establishments by nine employment-size classes
- Employment (mid-March)
- Payroll (first quarter and annual)
- Industry details down to 6-digit NAICS code and comparisons within the state
Zip Code Business Patterns
- Total number of establishments and establishments by nine employment-size classes
- Employment and payroll
- Industry details down to 6-digit NAICS code and comparison within 3-digit zip
Metro Business Patterns
- Total number of establishments and establishments by nine employment-size classes
- Employment (mid-March)
- Payroll (first quarter and annual)
- Industry details down to 6-digit NAICS code and comparisons among MSAs
FedStats
Turn to FedStats to locate non-Census data from over 100 Federal agencies, including sectors such as health care, education, transportation, communications, and banking
- A-Z INDEX to locate your topic
- GEOGRAPHICAL INDEX for more limited coverage at a geographic level
