The Survey of Manufacturing Technology (SMT) provides the first comprehensive data on the use and diffusion of advanced technology in the manufacturing sector; provides a method for obtaining comparable information on technologies in other sectors (such as nondurable goods industries).
Basic data are collected on the presence and plans for using advanced technologies, establishment characteristics, technologies and other topics. The survey covers 17 specific technologies, including numerically-controlled machines, computer-aided design or engineering technologies, programmable controllers and local area networks. Characteristics data include type of manufacturing, age of plant, primary customer, and price of products sold. Other basic questions include the reasons for not adopting technologies, and interaction with Federal defense agencies.
