Changes For 2010: The New Year Brings Improved Surveys To Members

Because we understand that accurate and up-to-date statistical data is critical to our member’s future success, we are bringing back two new, and we hope greatly improved, versions of past surveys in 2010: The Annual Survey and the Quarterly Business Conditions Survey.

As a first step, we are asking for Regular Member’s comments/suggestions regarding questions for our Annual Survey, which was last done in early 2008 and covered the 2007 calendar year. In order to make this survey more valuable to members, we want to be sure we are only asking questions that are relevant in today’s business world. We also want to be sure we are obtaining data on any important new issues that are of concern to your company.

Our goal is for this year’s Annual Survey to continue to collect valuable information not only for our shortline manufacturers, but also for bankers, that compare your own company’s results with similar firms in the industry. This includes everything from critical operating ratios, marketing costs, inventory turns, and operating expenses, to average pay levels and employee benefits.

The survey results are being prepared for the first time by Advantech Consulting Group in St. Louis, MO. We have worked with the company’s owner Brent Natzke for over 12 years and each of his employees are already under strict confidentiality agreements with this Association. Individual data will not be viewed or handled by either the Association staff or officers and directors of the organization. Data will also be destroyed by Advantech Consulting Group after tabulation. We have full trust in Advantech and know they will do a more than competent job on this year’s survey.

As an example, a copy of the 2007 Questionnaire is now posted online at FarmEquip.org/member_files/pdf/oldsurvey.pdf. Your comments and suggestions for improvements can be sent to Brent@Advantech-cg.com or by calling Vernon Schmidt in the Association’s office.

Our timeline on the Annual Survey is to have a two week comment/suggestion period, with the survey in Regular Member’s hands by February 1, 2010, and early results available by March 1, 2010.

As in the past, results of this survey will not be made public and will only be available online with a special password provided only to members that participate in the survey and provide data.

Once the Annual Survey is finished, we will then re-launch a new, easy-to-complete version of our Quarterly Business Conditions Survey that previously ran from 1998 to 2007.

These are just two of the many changes we are working on for 2010. Our goal for the new year is to add increased value to your company’s membership.

Additionally, if you have an idea for a program or service that you would like the Association to offer, please let us know. We look forward to your comments and concerns and are hopeful that 2010 will bring each member greater stability in their business along with success.