Thomas Register Survey Finds Increased Demand For Custom Products

Over Half Of Buyers Rely On CAD Drawings to Convey Custom Product Requests

NEW YORK, New York, September 9, 2002 - Thomas Register, the world’s most comprehensive information resource for supply-chain purchasing, has announced the results of its August Industrial Purchasing Barometer (IPB) Survey, which found that more than two-thirds (68%) of industrial buyers have experienced an increased need for customized products or components over the past three years. The survey also uncovered obstacles to customization.

The August IPB Survey was conducted randomly among Thomas Register’s pool of 760,000 opt-in online users. Respondents from the manufacturing and engineering industries, wholesale trade, distribution and government buyers participated in the survey, which asked how their need for customized products or components has changed over the past three years with the following results:

• Increased ………...………………………………..68%

• Remained the Same………………………………27%

• Decreased……….…………………………………..5%

According to the survey, the greatest obstacles buyers face when purchasing customized products and components are as follows:

• Long Turnaround Times…………………………..35%

• Difficulty in Locating Appropriate Suppliers……….28%

• Availability…………………………………………..17%

• Difficulty Getting Multiple Quotes at One Time…...9%

• Inaccurate Quotes…………………………………...7%

• Difficulty Expressing My Needs……………………4%

Respondents were also asked if they use Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings to convey requests for custom products with the following results:

• Yes…………………………………………………...51%

• No…………………………………………………….36%

• Not Applicable………………………………………..9%

• Not Sure………………………………………………4%

“Sourcing custom products has traditionally been very difficult to accomplish efficiently,” said Ruth Hurd, publisher of Thomas Register. “Due to the increased demand in recent years, many suppliers have begun to address this need online. The Internet, particularly when used as an outlet for CAD drawings, is becoming an invaluable tool for streamlining the custom sourcing process.”

About the Thomas Register Industrial Purchasing Barometer

Long known for monitoring the psyche of industrial buyers, Thomas Register launched its Industrial Purchasing Barometer (IPB) in November of 2001 to keep a closer eye on the dynamics of industrial purchasing during uncertain economic times. The IPB survey is conducted monthly online to provide a timely snapshot of purchasing behavior. Thomas Register also releases periodic IPB Assessments focusing on broader issues, which offer more in-depth data from extensive studies that focus on purchasing issues.

Conducted randomly among Thomas Register’s pool of 760,000 opt-in online users, the average monthly IPB survey includes respondents from manufacturing, engineering, wholesale trade, distribution and government industrial buyers.

Since its inception, the IPB survey has uncovered a variety of significant purchasing trends. The November 2001 IPB determined that industrial buyers did not postpone purchasing during the turbulent period immediately following September 11th. In fact, the survey reported that only three percent of buyers were holding off on purchasing. The December 2001 IPB showed over half of industrial buyers forecasted that purchasing and the economy, in general, will return to normal levels by mid-2002. In January 2002, the first broad IPB Assessment was released. It identified significant reliance on the Internet by industrial buyers, creating a condensed buying process. In fact, 91 percent of buyers reported contacting websites in place of making phone calls directly to suppliers.

ThomasRegister.com <www.ThomasRegister.com> is an online resource provided by Thomas Publishing Company, the pioneer of buying guides for every industry category for more than 100 years. The site provides up-to-date sourcing information on more than 75,000 industrial products and services, along with comprehensive specifications and availability information from thousands of manufacturers. ThomasRegister.com also allows users to search supplier databases, online catalogs and websites. Additional features include request for quotes (RFQs), secure online purchasing, and access to hundreds of millions of Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings. Thomas Register is also available in CD-ROM/DVD and in Print.

Thomas Register has a long history of monitoring the psyche of industrial buyers. The monthly PIT Barometer was implemented to track the changing attitudes and behavior of the industrial purchasing community.

About Thomas Register

ThomasRegister.com <www.ThomasRegister.com> is an online resource provided by Thomas Publishing Company, the pioneer of buying guides for every industry category for more than 100 years. The site provides up-to-date sourcing information on more than 75,000 industrial products and services, along with comprehensive specifications and availability information from thousands of manufacturers. ThomasRegister.com also allows users to search supplier databases, online catalogs and web sites. Additional features include request for quotes, secure online purchasing, and access to hundreds of millions of Computer Aided Design (CAD) drawings. Thomas Register is also available in CD-ROM/DVD and in print.

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