The latest Thomas Industrial Survey revealed the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 on North American manufacturing. Unsurprisingly, 89 percent of the 1,000+ North American manufacturers surveyed reported being affected by Covid-19. Business impacts include decreased demand, staffing issues, and fluctuations in the supply of materials and services.

Although the effects have been intense and widespread, the results show the crisis has fostered the reimagination of company supply chains and innovation in many manufacturing companies.

Most notably, the report revealed that one in four North American manufacturers are considering introducing industrial automation to their facilities as a result of Covid-19. Additionally, 64 percent of manufacturers report they are likely to bring manufacturing production and sourcing back to North America—a 10-percent increase of the same sentiment reported in the March 2020 survey.

Covid-19 impacts

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