A few key statistics of note:
- 76 percent of respondents have fewer than 500 worldwide employees;
- 76 percent of respondents have not had any change in their number of facilities in the last 12 months;
- 41 percent of respondents plan to open a new facility in the next five years; and
- 49 percent of respondents plan to expand an existing facility in the next five years.
These companies can do more with less (e.g., 76 percent have not grown the number of locations in the last year) but are quickly reaching the critical threshold of growth where they need to expand in terms of capacity, headcount, and access to new markets. This is a healthy sign for the overall economy and a welcome diversification for markets in which these companies will grow.