Abstract
This study provides an overview of IT spending trends and forecasts in Western
Europe process manufacturing. Beginning with trends affecting IT demand in the
industry, the study explores major drivers and directions in IT adoption. On
the quantitative side, the focus is on spending in hardware, packaged software,
and IT services for the major process manufacturing sub-industries for Western
Europe in the 2005-2010 timeframe.
Data is provided for the following sub-markets: chemical; food, beverage, and
tobacco; metal; non-metallic; other process; pharmaceutical; pulp and paper;
rubber and plastics; textiles; and wood and wood products.
"The business environment for Western European process manufacturers is one of
tough market conditions characterized by strong competition and a difficulty in
achieving sustainable growth. In order to survive it is imperative for
manufacturers to record profitable growth. On one hand this means they must
follow a continuous product innovation path and on the other hand attain
operational excellence. The adoption of innovative technology is clearly
playing a fundamental part as it is the enabler of business excellence and
competitive advantages," said Pierfrancesco Manenti, research director,
Manufacturing Insights. "Given the above market context, Manufacturing Insights
identifies important and selective IT opportunities in this sector and advises
IT vendors to focus their efforts on fast growing sub-industry segments. There
are still some sub-industries that are showing lower growth and this should be
addressed opportunistically or by IT vendors that have industry-specific
solutions and a large customer base."