Research Guides: Engineering Management: Industry Information

Industry Research Tips

Identify relevant industry classification codes. With industry classification codes, such as NAICS codes, you can locate industry reports and articles. See the Identifying Industry Classification Codes box for industry code sources.

Find industry associations. Industry associations often gather industry statistics and data, create industry reports, and publish industry news and articles. This valuable industry information is sometimes made available to non-members either on the association's website or via the Libraries' research databases. Business Insights: Essentials, IBISWorld, and Plunkett are databases that are especially useful for locating industry associations.

Browse industry reports. The Libraries have several databases that provide overviews and in-depth industry information, such as IBISWorld and Business Insights: Essentials.

Read industry articles and publications. Discover industry articles and publications via your feed reader, industry associations, and by using the advanced search of business article databases, such as Business Source Elite and ABI/Inform, to search by NAICS code. See the Articles and News tab of the Business Information Guide for tips on article databases and feed readers.

For a demonstration of how some of these tips may be applied, refer to the Industry Research Video Tutorials.

Identifying Industry Classification Codes

With industry classification codes, you can find business statistics, compare companies within the same industry, and locate industry reports and articles.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
This current U.S. government standard to classify businesses was developed to allow for comparability in business statistics among North American countries. NAICS groups together establishments that use the same or similar processes to produce goods or services.
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) System
Although superseded by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), SIC codes may still be used to search some government statistical portals and research databases.
NAICS and SIC Explained
An overview of NAICS and how it differs from the SIC system.

Research Tip: If you are having trouble determining the appropriate NAICS or SIC codes, try looking up a few companies within your industry of interest in a company database, such as Business Insights: Essentials. Take a look at the industry codes associated with those companies and then go back to the industry classification system to review the official industry code definitions in order to determine which codes may be most appropriate for your research.

Recommended Databases for Industry Research

Top Three Database Recommendations for Industry Research:

Business Insights: Essentials
Includes company profiles, financials, and SWOT analyses, associations, market share reports, business publications, and more. Search by keyword or NAICS code in "Industries" to discover relevant industry reports.
IBISWorld
Industry and company reports, industry outlook and risk rating reports, market share, and business environment profiles, and more, searchable by keyword or NAICS code.
Statista
Data from both public and private sources related to a wide range of subjects, including consumers, digital markets, and companies; also includes forecasts, analysis, reports, and more.

Additional recommended databases for industry research:

BizMiner
Industry and market analysis reports, covering national and local markets.
Economist Intelligence Unit
Reports, analysis, and data from the Economist Intelligence Unit related to the industries, and the economy in numerous countries.
Marketline Advantage
Company, country, industry and product -related reports, analysis, news and case studies .
Mergent Intellect
Provides access to information about U.S. and international public and private companies, company news, key business ratios, Indeed job search, Nielsen demographics, and a residential directory. Click on "First Research" and enter your syr.edu email address to search industry reports by keyword or NAICS code.
Plunkett Research Online
Market research reports covering energy, e-commerce, retailing and financial services; includes information about trends, statistics, companies and industry associations and organizations.

Census Resources

Here are a few U.S. Census links that may help you when researching an industry.

Explore Census Data
This is the source for the current U.S. Census data for population, economic, housing, and geographic information and data about the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Island areas. This NEW website replaces American Fact Finder.
Annual Survey of Manufactures (ASM)
The ASM provides the best current measure of U.S. manufacturing industry outputs, inputs, and operating status.
Business and Economy
Business, industry, and economic data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Economic Census
The economic census provides a detailed portrait of the United States' economy once every five years, from the national to the local level.
Industries at a Glance
Find a ‘snapshot’ of national industry data obtained from different Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys and programs.
Using Census Bureau Statistics
Tips and tools for using economic and industry data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Subjects:Business & Entrepreneurship