manufacturing barometer report (q4) south west...manufacturing barometer report (q4) south west...
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@mas_works www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/mas [email protected] 0300 303 0034 MAS on LinkedIn@mas_works www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/mas [email protected]
Manufacturing Barometer Report (Q4) SOUTH WEST
January – March 2015
Oil/Gas Aerospace
Pharmaceutical
Rail Offshore Wind
Food and Drink
Defence Electronics
Engineering Automotive Construction
Chemical
Nuclear Marine
MAS on LinkedIn
@mas_works www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/mas [email protected] 0300 303 0034 MAS on LinkedIn
Manufacturing Barometer - Q4 January to March 2014/15
Contents
Special FocusPlanning for Success
Oil/Gas
Chemical
Nuclear Marine
Aerospace
Pharmaceutical
Rail
Offshore Wind
Food and Drink
Defence
Electronics
Engineering
Automotive
Construction
@mas_works www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/mas [email protected] MAS on LinkedIn
Manufacturing Barometer - Q4 January to March 2014/15
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Introduction Survey Demographics Key Findings Manufacturing Outlook Q4Measuring Trends Spotlight on Productivity Growth Factors by Sector Economist’s Viewpoint Postscript Help and Information
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Since its launch in the South West in 2009, the Manufacturing Barometer has provided a vehicle to stimulate action and debate, map trends and gauge confidence as we embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
For the second consecutive quarter we received the most responses from any region in England outside of London & the South East, with key decision makers from nearly 100 small to medium sized (SME) manufacturers taking part. We are very grateful for the ongoing support.
In this latest survey, we revisited the theme of the ‘productivity’ puzzle to assess what improvements the region’s manufacturers feel they need to make in order to fulfil their growth plans.
Results suggest there is room for improvement, with four in five companies (81%) indicating they need to increase their productivity over the next six months. This is up from 74% two quarters ago and highlights
the need for firms to boost efficiencies, reduce waste and maximise the potential of their workforce and machinery.
We are encouraged that action is being taken in the South West. Nearly six in ten companies plan to increase investment in new machinery over the next six months, which compares favourably to the national average of 53% and represents the region’s highest recorded figure in the survey’s history.
However, we recognise that every business is different and there are many ways to address productivity challenges. For some companies, areas such as automation or reorganising the factory layout can form part of an overall strategy to increase productivity. Other businesses might find implementing lean processes or design for manufacture to be better solutions as part of an overarching improvement plan.
Introduction
* Small and medium sized enterprises. These are firms that employ less than 250 full time equivalent (FTE) employees and either turnover less than € 50m or have balance sheets of less than € 43m. For more information please see postscript.
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This quarter, for the first time, we asked manufacturers to share their ten year growth plans with us. Strategies for expansion naturally varied based on factors such as the size of the business, sector and number of employees, but a drive to operate more efficiently was shared by many, while collective challenges included the availability of skilled labour.
As part of the recently formed Business Growth Service, MAS is committed to continuing to engage with manufacturers both on the shop floor and at board level. We will continue to use the insight and feedback we receive from the Manufacturing Barometer to understand the unique challenges you face and tailor the specialist support we and our strategic partners deliver.
Simon HowesDirector of South West Manufacturing at the Business Growth ServiceJune 2015
continued:
5Manufacturing Barometer - Q4 January to March 2014/15
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Employees Proportion of Respondents
0 – 4 18%
5 – 9 14%
10 – 19 18%
20 – 49 39%
50 – 99 5%
100 – 249 7%
88
Key Statistics
Mean number of employees 30
Median number of employees 20
Minimum total staff count (FTE) 2,563
Survey Demographics
In the South West
Total Respondents
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Regions Respondents
North East 23
North West 48
Yorkshire & Humberside 51
East Midlands 30
West Midlands 80
East 57
London & The South East 116
South West 98
503
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Key Findings
Employment:54% of SME manufacturers expect staff numbers to increase in the next 6 months*
Compared with 55% nationally
Q: How do you expect staff numbers to change in the next 6 months?
4 Much Increased4 Increased No Change Reduced Much Reduced
Sales Turnover: 68% of SME manufacturers expect their sales turnover to increase in the next 6 months*
Compared with 70% nationally
Q: How do you expect your sales turnover to change over the next 6 months?
4 Much Increased4 Increased No Change Reduced Much Reduced
Investment:96% of SME manufacturers expect investment in new machinery or premises to remain the same or increase in the next 6 months*
Compared with 95% nationally
Q: How do you expect investment in new machinery or premises to change in the next 6 months?
4 Much Increased4 Increased4 No Change Reduced Much Reduced
Productivity:81% of SME manufacturers feel that productivity needs to increase in the next 6 months*
Compared with 84% nationally
Q: How do you feel productivity needs to change in the next 6 months compared with the past 6 months?
4 Much Increased4 Increased No Change Reduced Much Reduced
*The next 6 months (Apr – Sep 2015)
54 68 681
7Manufacturing Barometer - Q4 January to March 2014/15
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Manufacturing Outlook Q4
Much Reduced
Reduced No Change
Increased Much Increased
Has your sales turnover changed within the past 6 months? 3% 20% 23% 38% 15%
Do you expect your sales turnover to change over the next 6 months? 0% 7% 24% 52% 16%
How does your order book look compared with 6 months ago? 1% 20% 32% 40% 7%
Have your enquiry levels changed compared with 6 months ago? 0% 14% 30% 46% 10%
Do you expect staff numbers in your company to change in the next 6 months?
0% 1% 45% 49% 5%
Do you expect your investment in new machinery/premises to change in the next 6 months?
1% 3% 37% 46% 13%
Do you expect your investment in new technology to change in the next 6 months?
1% 0% 54% 37% 8%
Respondents 98
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Measuring Trends
Past: Sales
Percentage of SME manufacturers that experienced an increase in sales turnover in the past 6 months (Oct 14 – Mar 15)
Q22014/15
Q32014/15
Q12012/13
Q22012/13
Q32012/13
Q42012/13
55% 63% 51% 51%
Q42010/11
Q12011/12
Q22011/12
Q32011/12
Q42011/12
63%
Q12013/14
Q22013/14
Q32013/14
Q42013/14
Q12014/15
53% 52% 54% 53% 47% 59% 58% 51% 55%63%0%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
51%
Q42014/15
53%
9Manufacturing Barometer - Q4 January to March 2014/15
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Future: Sales
Percentage of SME manufacturers that predicted sales turnover growth in the next 6 months (Apr – Sep 15)
Q22014/15
Q32014/15
Q42014/15
Q12012/13
Q22012/13
Q32012/13
Q42012/13
Q42010/11
Q12011/12
Q22011/12
Q32011/12
Q42011/12
Q12013/14
Q22013/14
Q32013/14
Q42013/14
Q12014/15
0%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
57% 48% 41% 58%62% 51% 64% 67% 68% 61% 65% 72% 56% 60% 68%78%58%
Measuring Trends
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Measuring Trends
Future: Machinery & Premises
Percentage of SME manufacturers that predicted increased investment in new machinery or premises in the next 6 months (Apr – Sep 15)
Q22014/15
Q32014/15
Q12012/13
Q22012/13
Q32012/13
Q42012/13
Q42010/11
Q12011/12
Q22011/12
Q32011/12
Q42011/12
Q12013/14
Q22013/14
Q32013/14
Q42013/14
Q12014/15
0%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
42% 45% 43% 41%47% 40% 47% 50% 53% 50% 51% 49% 50% 53%57%41%
Q42014/15
59%
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Measuring Trends
Future: New Technology
Percentage of SME manufacturers that predicted increased investment in new technology in the next 6 months (Apr – Sep 15)
Q22014/15
Q32014/15
Q12012/13
Q22012/13
Q32012/13
Q42012/13
Q42010/11
Q12011/12
Q22011/12
Q32011/12
Q42011/12
Q12013/14
Q22013/14
Q32013/14
Q42013/14
Q12014/15
0%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
34% 44% 35% 27%31% 31% 39% 34% 40% 42% 44% 43% 44% 52%46%42%
Q42014/15
45%
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Measuring Trends
Future: Employment
Percentage of SME manufacturers that predicted staff increases in the next 6 months (Apr – Sep 15)
Q22014/15
Q32014/15
Q12012/13
Q22012/13
Q32012/13
Q42012/13
Q42010/11
Q12011/12
Q22011/12
Q32011/12
Q42011/12
Q12013/14
Q22013/14
Q32013/14
Q42013/14
Q12014/15
0%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
29% 38% 38% 42%43% 33% 35% 44% 39% 40% 49% 47% 42% 56%58%33%
Q42014/15
54%
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Much Reduced
Redu
ced
Much Increased
Much Reduced
Reduced
Redu
ced
ReducedMuch Reduced
25% 16%
64% 65%10% 16%
Much Increased
Increased
Increased
No ch
ang
e
No ch
ang
e
Much Reduced
SME manufacturers indicated how they feel productivity within their businesses in the past 6 months (Apr – Sep 14) compared with the previous 6 months (Oct 13 – Mar 14)
Respondents 146
SME manufacturers indicated how they feel productivity within their businesses in the past 6 months (Oct 14 – Mar 15) compared with the previous 6 months (Apr – Sep 14)
Respondents 98
SME manufacturers indicated how they feel productivity within their businesses needs to change in the next 6 months (Oct 14 – Mar 15) compared with the past 6 months (Apr – Sep 14)
Respondents 146
SME manufacturers indicated how they feel productivity within their businesses needs to change in the next 6 months (Apr – Sep 15) compared with the past 6 months (Oct 14 – Mar 15)
Respondents 98
Responses from Q2 2014/15 Manufacturing Barometer Responses from Q4 2014/15 Manufacturing Barometer
Spotlight on Productivity
47%46%
33% 30%
14% 16%
1% 3%
5% 5%
Looking back: Apr – Sep 14 Looking back: Oct 14 – Mar 15
Q1/2 Q3/4 Q3/4 Q1/2
Looking forward: Oct 14 – Mar 15 Looking forward: Apr – Sep 15
Much Increased
Much Increased
Incr
ease
d
Incr
ease
d
No
cha
ng
e
No
cha
ng
e
1%
0%
1%
1%
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• Turnover £930k–£940k• Employed 16 people
• Turnover £1.30m-£1.325m• Employing 18 people
• Stronger middle management• Lower average employee age• Newer plant and machinery• Updated software• New machining technique
• Turnover £2.025m-£2.05m• Employing 26 people
2014
2015
2017
2016
2020
2025
Differentiators:
Customer satisfaction.
• Free from short-term debt• Diversification• Expansion of customer base
• Bigger, stronger, more secureFacts
Employees: 18Sectors served: Rail, Electronics, Aerospace, DefenceLocation: Gloucestershire
Challenges:
Cashflow. Customer credit limits. Availability of skilled labour.Ability to train and retain motivated staff. Competition from deregulated countries.
A manufacturer shares their ten year plan:
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• Turnover £1.525m–£1.55m• Employed 20 people
• Turnover £2.125m-£2.15m• Employing 23 people
• Growing at 5% per annum• Handover to the next generation
of senior managers complete
• Turnover £2.275m-£2.3m• Employing 23 people
2014
2015
2017
2016
2020
2025
Differentiators:
Concentration on niche products that competitors cannot make.
• Making similar products but leaner and more profitably
• Efficient, lean and profitable• Conservative financial
management
Facts
Employees: 23Sectors served: Electronics, Food & Drink, Materials & EngineeringLocation: Bristol
Challenges:
Future senior managers to be as good or better than retiring senior managers.
A manufacturer shares their ten year plan:
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• Turnover £1.25m–£1.5m• Employed 9 people
• Turnover £1.475m– £1.5m• Employing 9 people
• Smaller or similar sized business but growth in 3D printing
• Turnover £750k–£760k• Employing 9 people
2014
2015
2017
2016
2020
2025
Differentiators:
Portable remote-controlled products.
• Primarily 3D printing with current business playing a minor role
• In the hands of my sonFacts
Employees: 9Sectors served: Highways maintenance Location: South West
Challenges:
Future legislative changes.Lack of adoption of 3D printing technology amongst local companies.
A manufacturer shares their ten year plan:
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• Turnover £5.075m–£5.1m• Employed 47 people
• Turnover £4.925m– £4.95m• Employing 49 people
• Turnover £6m–£6.5m• Significantly improved
profitability• Increased staff but no expansion
of premises
• Turnover £5.5m–£5.425m• Employing 50 people
2014
2015
2017
2016
2020
2025
Differentiators:
Niche manufacturer solves problems for their customers.
• Own current site or moved to new premises locally• Employing 70 people• Turnover £8.5m–£10m• Expand into new markets beyond food and drink
• Turnover £10m–£15m• More agents and distributors
around the globe• Possibly set-up a manufacturing
site abroad to supplement UK production
Facts
Employees: 49Sectors served: Food & Drink Location: Bristol
Challenges:
Ability to find the right people to represent us around the globe.Funding expansion. Increased competition. Finding skilled employees.
A manufacturer shares their ten year plan:
18Manufacturing Barometer - Q4 January to March 2014/15
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Our casting technique.
Precision Alloys Steel castings
SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Satisfying demand in our target markets based on innovation & continuous improvement. PB Design & Developments Limited Standby Power Solutions
SOMERSET
We’re honest, down to earth, properly natural and frill free. We hand make the best possible skincare products and don’t charge the earth for them. Pure Nuff Stuff Ltd Natural cosmetics and skincare
CORNWALL
We have concentrated on bespoke engineered solutions and moved away from standard products that everyone makes. Helipebs Controls LtdCylinder and valve engineering technology
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
We have an excellent, hard earned, reputation for quality, early delivery and outstanding customer service that allows us to be more expensive than our competiors. Apperley Honing Machines Ltd
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Click on the company names to be taken to their websites
What makes your business different from others?
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Consolidating the massive growth we have had recently. Cam Machine Components Turned parts
NORTH SOMERSET
Employee owned and heading to £10m sales at NPAT of 10%. PB Design & Developments Limited Standby Power Solutions
SOMERSET
Growth by acquisition and new premises better suited to our operations.
Newclay Products Ltd Art and craft materials
DEVON
Significant growth in turnover. Expert CNC Ltd
DORSET
More capacity and more capability. Westaway Sausages Limited
DEVON
Click on the company names to be taken to their websites
What will your business look like two years from now?
2YEARS
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Primarily 3D printing with roadsigns playing a minor role.
TM Safety Signs LimitedRoad signage & 3D printing
SOMERSET
50% larger.
Ian Berg Plastics Limited
Injection moulding
WILTSHIRE
New leadership team.
Carley’s of Cornwall Ltd
Organic nut and seed butters
CORNWALL
Operating from a new purpose built facility.
Helipebs Controls Ltd
Cylinder and valve engineering technology
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
At capacity.
Crepe Cuisine Ltd
Crêpes, blinis and pancakes
CORNWALL
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What will your business look like five years from now?
5YEARS
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National coverage as part of our distribution activities and have achieved in excess of £20,000,000 turnover. Applied Automation (UK) Ltd Bespoke automation equipment
DEVON
Me, on a privately owned island, running it all remotely and popping over from time to time on my yacht. Obviously. Pure Nuff Stuff LtdNatural cosmetics and skincare
CORNWALL
One of Britain’s best loved brands. Littlepod ltd Natural vanilla products
DEVON
Main provider of Biocompostable film foam and eco friendly materials.BioViron International LimitedBio-plastic based packaging products
WILTSHIRE
Unrecognisable! F-Board LimitedPlastic scaffolding boards
Click on the company names to be taken to their websites
What will your business look like ten years from now?
10 YEARS
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Highways traffic signage legislation. Lack of adoption of 3D printing technology amongst local companies.
TM Safety Signs Limited Road signage
SOMERSET
Customer confidence in the capacity of a small and mighty business.
Rockwood Composites LtdComposite components
DEVON
Skills.
PB Design & Developments LimitedStandby Power Solutions
SOMERSET
EU laws on skincare are changing. If we grow beyond a certain point, We’ll also need new premises, which is a challenge in this area.
Pure Nuff Stuff LtdNatural cosmetics and skincare
CORNWALL
Accessing skilled labour.
Applied Automation (UK) Ltd Bespoke automation equipment
DEVON
Click on the company names to be taken to their websites
What challenges stand in the way of your plans?
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Manufacturing Barometer - Q4 January to March 2014/15
Economist’s Viewpoint
The SW economy generates over £21,100 of gross value added per resident (9.5% below the UK average in 2013 prices) and nearly £17,700 of gross domestic household income per head (0.8% above the UK average).
Manufacturing contributes about 12% of the SW total output: a ratio that has fallen from 17% since 2000, when UK manufacturing output peaked. Meanwhile, the SW unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in the January – March 2015 quarter compared with a national average rate of 5.5%.
Essentially, the SW economic ‘story’ is one that says, “we employ most of our people and this, with other transfers, keeps our incomes at a reasonably good comparative level. But, we are not as productive as some other regions, our manufacturing content is below average, and it is slipping over time”. In interpreting the MAS Barometer Survey, this context and how it reflects wider export and productivity performances, as well as the strength of local supply chains, is important.
Reflecting these structural factors, the latest SW Barometer recorded balances that were often slightly less positive than those for the United Kingdom as a whole. Compared with previous surveys, however, these trends were a little more favourable. SW firms have had a reasonably good ‘winter’ period (October 2014 – March 2015). Importantly, more respondents expected sales (68%) and employment (54%) to increase in the six months ahead than did so a year ago. On investment, the picture is more mixed. SW companies say they are more likely to invest in machinery and plant (59%) than in new technology (only 45%). Increased investment and innovation are vital to boosting SW productivity – GVA per hour presently about 8% below the UK average – in order to deliver a sustainable recovery.
Accordingly, SW firms were asked about their plans for productivity in this survey. This particular spotlight showed that 81% of respondents believe productivity needs to increase in their business over the coming months: a ratio that is higher than the 74% balance recorded six months earlier. These SW ratios are both lower than the national figures but not markedly so.
We have invited an experienced economist to comment on the Barometer results.
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Manufacturing Barometer - Q4 January to March 2014/15
Economist’s Viewpoint
Moreover, 51% of SW companies said they had actually achieved an increase in productivity in the October 2014 – March 2015 period, compared with 46% nationally. SW firms seem to have modestly more realistic expectations but their achievement continues to lag expectation.
Closing this gap would be a vital ingredient in developing the upturn from here: an ingredient that is likely to favour some rebalancing towards more SME manufacturing.
Nigel F Jump Independent EconomistJune 2015
Nigel Jump is chief economist at Strategic Economics. He has been appointed to provide an independent view on the Manufacturing Barometer. The comments expressed above are based on his professional experience and expertise and are in no way intended to represent the views of the Business Growth Service or SWMAS Ltd.S
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25Manufacturing Barometer - Q4 January to March 2014/15
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Methodology
The Manufacturing Barometer represents the views of senior decision makers within SME manufacturers based in England. Lists of respondents are actively maintained to ensure that there is only one response per company, and ineligible companies are excluded from the results.
Please note that:
• Percentages are given throughout to the nearest integer value
• Given variability in sample and population sizes across questions respondent numbers are provided to allow for the calculation of confidence intervals
• Manufacturers’ comments are presented with permission and provide insight into a range of sectors and ambitions
• Small and Medium sized enterprises are defined as firms that employ less than 250 full time equivalent (FTE) employees and either turnover less than € 50m or have balance sheets of less than € 43m.
For more information please see: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/sme/facts-figures-analysis/sme-definition/index_en.htm
Manufacturing Barometer
The Manufacturing Barometer provides a quarterly snapshot of small and medium sized manufacturers in England. It charts trends in turnover, employment and investment, along with capturing ambitions and concerns.
Manufacturing Barometer was started by SWMAS Ltd in the South West of England in 2009 and now covers the whole of England.
The Manufacturing Advisory Service
The Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) is part of the Business Growth Service , a government-backed service offering support to businesses with the potential to improve and grow.
Funded by the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills , we have an 80+ strong team of Business Growth Managers with specific manufacturing expertise, working on the ground with management teams to plan long-term strategies, improve processes, bring new products to market and develop supply chains.Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS).
MAS works for England’s manufacturers. Funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) we provide a national service delivered locally by experienced advisors. We work with manufacturers to create business and product strategies. We help to develop cultures of innovation that generate new product ideas and market opportunities. We work to reduce waste and maximise profitability with individual businesses and their supply chains.
If you are an SME manufacturer seeking to improve, or a larger enterprise looking to build or improve a domestic supply chain, please contact us to find out how we can help.
Postscript
26Manufacturing Barometer - Q4 January to March 2014/15
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Your views are important to us:The Manufacturing Barometer takes less than 5 minutes to complete and is an opportunity for your views to be heard. Small and medium sized manufacturers based in England are invited to take part in the next quarterly Manufacturing Barometer. Please email [email protected] stating that you wish to participate.
For information on the Manufacturing Barometer report and survey: [email protected]
For media information: [email protected] 07703 795554
MAS support information:www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/mas [email protected] 0300 303 0034
Help and Information
This survey and report is designed, analysed and compiled by SWMAS Ltd and provided for use to the Business Growth Service.This report is only available electronically in PDF format.
Usage Conditions: The information and findings in this Manufacturing Barometer may be freely re-used in any online or offline publication and presentation, provided it is accompanied by the following credit line –
“This information is used courtesy of the Manufacturing Barometer report as provided by SWMAS ltd.”
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information supplied herein, SWMAS Ltd, the Business Growth Service and any of the contributors to this report cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that are revealed by future data revisions, new publications or policy changes, or for the consequences of actions taken by any party on the basis of the content of this report.