Introduction
PLUNKETT’S ENGINEERING &
RESEARCH INDUSTRY ALMANAC, the third edition of our
guide to the engineering and research field, is designed as
a general source for researchers of all types.
The data and areas of interest covered
are intentionally broad, ranging from the various aspects of
the engineering and research industry, to emerging technology,
to an in-depth look at the major firms (which we call “THE
ENGINEERING & RESEARCH 375”) within the many
segments that make up the engineering and research industry.
This reference book is designed to
be a general source for researchers. It is especially intended
to assist with market research, strategic planning, employment
searches, contact or prospect list creation (be sure to see
the export capabilities of the accompanying CD-ROM that is available
to book and eBook buyers) and financial research, and as a data
resource for executives and students of all types.
PLUNKETT’S ENGINEERING
& RESEARCH INDUSTRY ALMANAC takes a rounded approach
for the general reader. This book presents a complete overview
of the engineering and research field (see “How To Use
This Book”). For example, advances in design automation
are discussed, as well as changes in research and development
spending and patents.
THE ENGINEERING & RESEARCH
375 is our unique grouping of the biggest, most successful
corporations in all segments of the engineering and research
industry. Tens of thousands of pieces of information, gathered
from a wide variety of sources, have been researched and are
presented in a unique form that can be easily understood. This
section includes thorough indexes to THE ENGINEERING & RESEARCH
375, by geography, industry, sales, brand names, subsidiary
names and many other topics. (See Chapter 4.)
Especially helpful is the way in
which PLUNKETT’S ENGINEERING & RESEARCH INDUSTRY
ALMANAC enables readers who have no business background
to readily compare the financial records and growth plans of
engineering and research companies and major industry groups.
You’ll see the mid-term financial record of each firm,
along with the impact of earnings, sales and strategic plans
on each company’s potential to fuel growth, to serve new
markets and to provide investment and employment opportunities.
No other source provides this book’s
easy-to-understand comparisons of growth, expenditures, technologies,
corporations and many other items of great importance to people
of all types who may be studying this, one of the most important
industries in the world today.
By scanning the data groups and the
unique indexes, you can find the best information to fit your
personal research needs. The major companies in engineering
and research are profiled and then ranked using several different
groups of specific criteria. Which firms are the biggest employers?
Which companies earn the most profits? These things and much
more are easy to find.
In addition to individual company
profiles, an overview of engineering and research technology
and its trends is provided. This book’s job is to help
you sort through easy-to-understand summaries of today’s
trends in a quick and effective manner.
Whatever your purpose for researching
the engineering and research field, you’ll find this book
to be a valuable guide. Nonetheless, as is true with all resources,
this volume has limitations that the reader should be aware
of:
-
Financial data and other corporate
information can change quickly. A book of this type can be
no more current than the data that was available as of the
time of editing. Consequently, the financial picture, management
and ownership of the firm(s) you are studying may have changed
since the date of this book. For example, this almanac includes
the most up-to-date sales figures and profits available to
the editors as of early 2005. That means that we have typically
used corporate financial data as of late-2004.
-
Corporate mergers, acquisitions
and downsizing are occurring at a very rapid rate. Such events
may have created significant change, subsequent to the publishing
of this book, within a company you are studying.
-
Some of the companies in THE
ENGINEERING & RESEARCH 375 are so large in scope
and in variety of business endeavors conducted within a parent
organization, that we have been unable to completely list
all subsidiaries, affiliations, divisions and activities within
a firm’s corporate structure.
-
This volume is intended to be
a general guide to a vast industry. That means that researchers
should look to this book for an overview and, when conducting
in-depth research, should contact the specific corporations
or industry associations in question for the very latest changes
and data. Where possible, we have listed contact names, toll-free
telephone numbers and World Wide Web site addresses for the
companies, government agencies and industry associations involved
so that the reader may get further details without unnecessary
delay.
-
Tables of industry data and
statistics used in this book include the latest numbers available
at the time of printing, generally through mid-2004. In a
few cases, the only complete data available was for earlier
years.
-
We have used exhaustive efforts
to locate and fairly present accurate and complete data. However,
when using this book or any other source for business and
industry information, the reader should use caution and diligence
by conducting further research where it seems appropriate.
We wish you success in your endeavors, and we trust that your
experience with this book will be both satisfactory and productive.
