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26 | /insight on manufacturing • March 2014 w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m By the Numbers With expectations for continued growth in 2014, U.S. industrial manufacturers were optimistic about the U.S. economy, and, significantly, the broader world economy, according to the Pricewaterhouse Coopers Q4 2013 Manufacturing Barometer. Most manufacturers expect positive revenue gains, international sales to regain momentum and plans for hiring to remain steady. Optimism regarding the domestic economy during the next year rose among U.S. industrial manufacturers to 68% in the fourth quarter of 2013, from 60% in the previous quarter. Compared to the fourth quarter of 2012, 20% more of the executives surveyed are now optimistic about the domestic economy. Overall sentiment about the world's economic prospects among U.S. industrial manufacturers who market abroad rose to 47% from 40% in the third quarter. Cyber-security & IT innovations U.S. industrial manufacturers cited hackers as the greatest cyber-security threat to their business (69%), followed by current/former employees (26%) and activists/activist organizations (7%). Among U.S. industrial products manufacturers, 75% claim to have a way to detect the effectiveness of their organization's security programs and 82% cited having a formalized plan in place for reporting and responding to cyber-security events. Over the past 12 months, 15% reported an increase in cyber-security events. Of survey respondents, 38% indicated that their business made use of important IT innovations in the past year, fueled by manufacturing processes (52 %) and security/ cyber threats (43%). Source: Pricewaterhouse Coopers Q4 2013 Manufacturing Barometer Port of Green bay offers 'green' transportation alternative Port of Green bay: The year in review A ship destined for the Port of Green Bay carrying 18,000 tons of coal from Sandusky, Ohio, on Lake Erie will burn more than 7,000 gallons of fuel. If that same amount of coal was delivered to Green Bay by rail, it would take almost 200 rail cars burning 36,000 gallons of fuel. If that coal was delivered to Green Bay by truck, it would take an additional 700 trucks burning over 110,000 gallons of fuel. Source: Port of Green Bay Annual Report 2013 Fourteen port businesses span over three miles of the Fox River. These businesses moved 2,245,343 metric tons during 2013, representing a 17% increase from 2012. There were 183 vessels in port in 2013, compared with 170 in 2012, an 8% increase. Major positive contributors to the 2013 season include increases in domestic imports of U.S. salt (35%), coal (21%) and limestone (21%). Foreign imports of petroleum products (150%) and salt (84%) also contributed positively to the 2013 season. Negative impacts include reduced road construction, resulting in 42% less liquid asphalt and 11% less cement last year. The Port of Green Bay supports more than 832 jobs resulting in $27 million in personal income, and has an annual economic impact on the Green Bay area of about $88 million. The 14 port businesses pay more than $5 million in local and state taxes. The shipping season closed prematurely due to thickening ice conditions on Dec. 16, the earliest closure in 10 years. Source: Port of Green Bay Annual Report 2013