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Annual Survey of Manufactures
General
1. What is the purpose of the Annual Survey of Manufactures?
The ASM provides key intercensal measures of manufacturing activity, products, and location for the public and private sectors. The ASM also provides the best current measure of current U.S. manufacturing industry outputs, inputs, and operating status, and is the primary basis for updates of the Longitudinal Research Database (LRD). Census Bureau staff and academic researchers with sworn agent status use the LRD for micro data analysis.
2. What is the estimated time needed to complete the MA-10000 form?
Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average from 30 minutes to 6 hours per response with an average of 3½ hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching for existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.
3. When is the Annual Survey of Manufactures due?
The deadline for returning data to the Census Bureau is 30 days after receiving the questionnaire.
4. How do I request a time extension?
Visit the Online Services section of our website to request a time extension. You must have your User ID and Password to gain access to Online Services. You may also call 1-800-233-6136 and a service representative will assist you.
5. How often is the Annual Survey of Manufactures conducted?
Data collection is annual and usually begins in late December of the reference year. Reported data are for activities taking place during the survey calendar year. Responses are due within 30 days of receipt.
For census years, data collection is part of the economic census. Survey coverage and content may vary during the census-related five-year program cycle.
6. What is the coverage of the Annual Survey of Manufactures?
Establishments that are classified in the Manufacturing Sector and have at least one employee.
7. How is the Annual Survey of Manufactures carried out?
This is a mail-out/mail-back survey of 50,000 selected establishments and administrative data for small employers and new businesses. The mail survey represents a sample of all establishments that received a form in the previous Economic Census - Manufacturing.
Approximately 15,400 establishments are selected with certainty, and 34,600 other establishments are selected with probability proportional to a composite measure of establishment size. Most establishments receive a long form, and about 1,100 single-establishment firms from industries with large numbers of small firms (that have between 5 to 20 employees) receive a short form.
The universe used to construct the mail survey is updated annually from two sources;
- Internal Revenue Service Administrative records are used to include new single-unit manufacturers
- the Census Bureau’s Report of Organization (NC-99001) identifies new establishments of multi-unit firms.
8. What type of content does the Annual Survey of Manufactures cover?
Topics covered are the same as for the Economic Census. Basic data obtained include kind of business, location, ownership, value of shipments, payroll, and employment.
Additional data collected include cost of materials, inventories, new capital expenditures, fuel and energy costs, hours worked, and payroll supplements.
9. How are the data collected from the Annual Survey of Manufactures used?
The Annual Survey of Manufactures provides the best measure of current U. S. manufacturing industry outputs, inputs, and operating status. It provides detailed annual statistics on the location, activities, and products of U.S. manufacturers.
In addition:
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics uses these data to calculate annual productivity series, update producer price indexes, and calculate weights for new index components.
- The Federal Reserve Board uses the data to prepare the Index of Industrial Production.
- The Bureau of Economic Analysis uses the data to prepare annual GDP updates and weights for GDP deflators.
- The Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration uses the data to evaluate and forecast industrial activity.
- State and local agencies use the data to plan trade and economic policies.
- Private industry and trade associations use it to plan operations, analyze markets, and make investment and production decisions.
10. Are any reports created from the data collected in the Annual Survey of Manufactures?
Yes. Statistics for Industry Groups and Industries provide statistics for industry shipments, value added, inventories, materials, employment, hours and payroll. These data are released about 12 months after the end of the calendar year covered.
- The Value of Product Shipments report provides estimates of the value of product shipments at the product class level and multi-industry products. These data are available about 12 months after the calendar year covered by the report.
- Geographic Area Statistics provide additional data at the industry group level for each state about 15 months after the year.
- Exports From Manufacturing Establishments reports provide estimates of the value of exports and related employment by industry, state, and state by selected industry and are released about 36 months after the year covered.
For more information on manufacturing statistics and reports, please visit the Census Bureau’s Manufacturing Homepage.
11. What economic programs are related to the Annual Survey of Manufactures?
- The Economic Census - Manufacturing Sector
- Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey
- Quarterly Financial Report
- Current Industrial Reports
- Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (M3)
12. I sold my company (this plant or establishment) during the year in question. What should I report?
Please complete the report form for the portion of the year that you owned the company (plant or establishment).
13. My company is not a manufacturer, what should I do?
If you do not manufacture products at the location shown in the address box of the report form, please indicate the nature of your business in the Remarks section and return the form to us. (An approximation of your Receipts (Item 5A), Employment (Item 7A5) and Payroll (Item 7B1c) is often helpful in avoiding telephone calls from us.)
Please note: establishments engaged in the activities listed below are considered to be manufacturing establishments for the purpose of this survey:
- Apparel jobbing and contracting
- Assembling from purchased components
- Ship repair
- Commission processing of materials owned by others
- Job casting, stamping, and machining
- Lapidary work
- Machine shops, including those operating on a job-order basis
- Manufacturing and delivering ready-mixed concrete
- Milk pasteurizing and bottling
- Plating, galvanizing, polishing, etc., of materials owned by others
- Poultry dressing
- Printing
- Research and development, engineering and other services directly related to aerospace industries
- Sawmills
- Seafood, fresh-packaged or frozen
- Wood preserving
14. Can estimates be used to complete the report form? (For example, what if I don’t keep shipments by location?)
Yes. A good estimate is acceptable if book figures are not available for specific items. Estimates by location are ok. We do not expect businesses to incur additional expenses to develop information not available from their records.
15. Are copies of forms acceptable for filing?
Yes. Please be sure that all data, including the label information and barcodes, are legible.
16. Can I report on a fiscal year basis?
We prefer the data to be reported for the calendar year. If calendar year book figures are not available except at considerable cost, reasonable estimates are acceptable.
However, if your fiscal year ends between October 31 and February 28, fiscal year figures are acceptable for all items except employment, plant hours, and payrolls. (Calendar year figures for these employment items should be available from your quarterly tax records.) Indicate in Item 30, Certification, the exact dates covered.
17. How do I access the previous year(s) submitted data?
If your company previously reported electronically via Census Surveyor software, you may still be able to access your information. Is the person who completed the previous forms still employed with your organization? If so, the person may still have the Census Surveyor software on his/her computer and that person can simply open the software to view previously submitted data.
If the software is no longer available, or if you reported via paper or online via Direct Internet Reporting, the Census Bureau can research your request to see if prior data is available. To ensure privacy, requests must be submitted online via our Secure Messaging Center. To register/login for the Secure Messaging Center please visit econhelp.census.gov/asm and click on the link for "Secure Messaging Center" under the Tools header on the left hand side of the page. Once registered and logged in you will have a menu option for "Request for Previously Submitted Data." Select that option, complete the short form, and submit your request. Requests will be researched as time permits, and response time will vary depending on the number of requests received.
18. Changes that were made last year are not present in this year’s form. Why?
If your data was submitted past our processing date, changes may not have been made. If you need further information, please Contact Staff.
19. How can I obtain a copy of the data my company submitted last year?
If your company previously reported electronically via Census Surveyor software, you may still be able to access your information. Is the person who completed the previous forms still employed with your organization? If so, the person may still have the Census Surveyor software on his/her computer and that person can simply open the software to view previously submitted data.
If the software is no longer available, or if you reported via paper or online via Direct Internet Reporting, the Census Bureau can research your request to see if prior data is available. To ensure privacy, requests must be submitted online via our Secure Messaging Center. To register/login for the Secure Messaging Center please visit econhelp.census.gov/asm and click on the link for "Secure Messaging Center" under the Tools header on the left hand side of the page. Once registered and logged in you will have a menu option for "Request for Previously Submitted Data." Select that option, complete the short form, and submit your request. Requests will be researched as time permits, and response time will vary depending on the number of requests received.
20. My business does not have a physical address. What should I report?
Describe the physical location referencing distances from cities, major highways, shopping centers, etc. (i.e., ½ mile south of Boise on Route 728).
21. Why is my prior year data different than I reported last year?
The figures may differ from those actually reported because of changes made by the U.S. Census Bureau as a result of correspondence or a comparison with prior data reported for the establishment. Check these figures and make any necessary corrections.
22. Where can I obtain a paper copy of the MA-10000 and NC-99530 report forms?
If you want to have survey forms mailed to your company, visit the Online Services section of our website to make the request. You may also call 1-800-233-6136 and a service representative will assist you.
23. Where can I obtain a copy of the instructions to complete the form?
You may print copies of the instructions from the Forms and Instructions tab on the Annual Survey of Manufactures Homepage.
24. How do I confirm the Census Bureau received my data?
Visit the Online Services section of our website to check your filing status. You must have your User ID (UID) and Password (PW) to gain access to Online Services. You may also call 1-800-233-6136 and a service representative will assist you.
25. Will my business be visited by an enumerator?
Nearly all Census Bureau business surveys are conducted by mail, phone, or electronically.
The Census Bureau only sends field representatives to visit businesses only for two construction-related surveys. If a Census Bureau employee visits your business, he or she will 1) show you official Census Bureau identification and 2) tell you the name of the survey for which your participation is needed.
26. How do I contact the Census Bureau?
- By Telephone (8:00 am - 5:00 pm, ET – Monday through Friday): 1-800-201-4647
- By Mail:
U. S. Census Bureau
National Processing Center
1201 East 10th Street
Jeffersonville, IN 47132-0001 - By Secure Messaging Center
27. Can I combine all of my data?
No. Separate data are required for each establishment or place of business operated during the survey year. To publish meaningful data for all geographic areas and economic activities, it is necessary to obtain information for each of your locations.
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