What keeps aggregate producers up at night?

By |  December 5, 2019
The figures listed each represent the percentage of aggregate producers who told P&Q that the corresponding factor keeps them up at night. Click to enlarge

The figures listed each represent the percentage of aggregate producers who told P&Q that the corresponding factor keeps them up at night. Click to enlarge

The number of things keeping aggregate producers up at night continues to grow.

No area of the business keeps producers up quite like employee retention, though. Half of the aggregate producers who responded to Pit & Quarry’s 2019 State of the Industry survey say retaining employees keeps them up at night. The same percentage (50 percent) of producers also indicated a year ago that this was a significant worry of theirs.

Similarly, hiring is a significant concern for producers, although producers do not characterize hiring as big of an issue as employee retention. Whereas 50 percent of producers say retaining employees keeps them up at night, 28 percent indicate hiring people is something that has them tossing and turning at the midnight hour.

Unfortunately for producers, personnel concerns are far from the only item keeping them up at night. Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) compliance is once again a top worry, as 44 percent of producers say this area keeps them up at night. In addition, compliance with non-MSHA rules and regulations is a source of stress, as 22 percent indicate this is an area of concern.

Other sources of stress that keep producers up: equipment/facility maintenance (39 percent), production demands (39 percent), growth of the business (33 percent), aggregate pricing (28 percent), customer retention (28 percent) and safety (16 percent).

Cash flow is another increasing concern for producers. Since 2017, when P&Q began surveying producers for its State of the Industry Report, cash flow had not necessarily been a top producer concern. This year, however, 28 percent of producers say cash flow is something they worry about.

Community relations is yet another area of growing concern for producers, with 22 percent indicating this area of the business keeps them up at night.


Featured image: Photo by P&Q staff


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