In October 2020, DVIRC engaged a national marketing research and consulting firm, to conduct a survey and interviews among small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) in the Delaware Valley region to learn how their businesses were affected by COVID-19 and what opportunities arose.
The research was developed as part of a grant DVIRC received from the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Economic Adjustment to help strengthen the capabilities and competitiveness of small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) critical to the DoD supply chain.
The research sought to:
- Understand the impact of COVID-19 on regional manufacturers
- Identify constraints manufacturers are facing, especially in light of COVID-19
- Assess the current needs of manufacturers (e.g., workforce/hiring, continuous improvement initiatives, investment in technology, etc.)
- Identify sales growth opportunities and business priorities for 2021
