Description of Industries and Summary of Findings

INDUSTRY 3471, PLATING AND POLISHING

This industry is made up of establishments primarily engaged in all types
of electroplating, plating, anodizing, coloring, and finishing of metals
and formed products for the trade. Also included in this industry are
establishments which perform these types of activities, on their own
account, on purchased metals or formed products.  Establishments that both
manufacture and finish products are classified according to the products.

The 1992 definition of this industry is the same as that used in the 1987
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. The SIC number and title
also are the same.

In the 1992 Census of Manufactures, Industry 3471, Plating and Polishing,
had employment of 65.4 thousand. The employment figure was 8 percent below
the 71.1 thousand reported in 1987.

The leading States in employment in 1992 were California, Ohio, Illinois,
and Michigan, accounting for approximately 45 percent of the industry's
employment. These same States were the leaders in 1987 when they accounted
for 41 percent of the industry's employment.

The total value of shipments for establishments classified in this industry
was $4.7 billion.

Establishments in virtually all industries ship secondary products as well
as products primary to the industry in which they are classified and have
some miscellaneous receipts, such as resales and contract receipts.
Industry 3471 shipped $4.2 billion of products considered primary to the
industry, $311.1 million of secondary products, and had $208.9 million of
miscellaneous receipts, resales, and contract work.  Thus, the ratio of
primary products to the total of both secondary and primary products
shipped by establishments in this industry was 93 percent (specialization
ratio). In 1987, the specialization ratio was 97 percent.

Establishments in this industry also accounted for 94 percent of products
considered primary to the industry no matter where they were actually
produced (coverage ratio). In 1987, the coverage ratio also was 94 percent.

The products primary to industry 3471, no matter in what industry they were
produced, appear in file MC92F6A and aggregate to $4.5 billion. For further
explanation of specialization and coverage ratios, see file MC92F5B and the
appendixes.

The total cost of materials, services, and fuels and energy used by
establishments classified in the plating and polishing industry amounted to
$1.6 billion. Data on specific materials consumed appear in file MC92F7.

Single-establishment companies in this industry with less than 5 employees
were excluded from the mail portion of the census. The data for these
establishments (and a small number of larger establishments whose reports
were not received at the time the data were tabulated) were obtained from
administrative records of other agencies or developed from industry
averages. These establishments accounted for 12 percent of the total value
of shipments.


INDUSTRY 3479, METAL COATING AND ALLIED SERVICES

This industry is made up of establishments primarily engaged in performing
the following types of services on metals for the trade: (1) enameling,
lacquering, and varnishing metal products; (2) hot dip galvanizing of mill
sheets, plates and bars, castings, and formed products fabricated of iron
and steel; hot dip coating such items with aluminum, lead, or zinc;
retinning cans and utensils; (3) engraving, chasing and etching jewelry,
silverware, notarial and other seals, and other metal products for purposes
other than printing; and (4) other metal services; not elsewhere
classified. Also included in this industry are establishments which perform
these types of activities on their own account on purchased metals or
formed products.  Establishments that both manufacture and finish products
are classified according to the products.

The 1992 definition of this industry is the same as that used in the 1987
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. The SIC number and title
also are the same.

In the 1992 Census of Manufactures, Industry 3479, Metal Coating and Allied
Services, had employment of 43.7 thousand. The employment figure was 5
percent above the 41.5 thousand reported in 1987.

The leading States in employment in 1992 were California, Michigan, Ohio,
and Illinois, accounting for approximately 42 percent of the industry's
employment. These same States were the leaders in 1987 when they accounted
for 45 percent of the industry's employment.

The total value of shipments for establishments classified in this industry
was $5.2 billion.

Establishments in virtually all industries ship secondary products as well
as products primary to the industry in which they are classified and have
some miscellaneous receipts, such as resales and contract receipts.
Industry 3479 shipped $4.7 billion of products considered primary to the
industry, $197.6 million of secondary products, and had $224.8 million of
miscellaneous receipts, resales, and contract work.  Thus, the ratio of
primary products to the total of both secondary and primary products
shipped by establishments in this industry was 96 percent (specialization
ratio). In 1987, the specialization ratio was 93 percent.

Establishments in this industry also accounted for 92 percent of products
considered primary to the industry no matter where they were actually
produced (coverage ratio). In 1987, the coverage ratio also was 92 percent.

The products primary to industry 3479, no matter in what industry they were
produced, appear in file MC92F6A and aggregate to $5.1 billion. For further
explanation of specialization and coverage ratios, see file MC92F5B and the
appendixes.

The total cost of materials, services, and fuels and energy used by
establishments classified in the metal coating and allied services industry
amounted to $2.7 billion. Data on specific materials consumed appear in
file MC92F7.

Single-establishment companies in this industry with less than 5 employees
were excluded from the mail portion of the census. The data for these
establishments (and a small number of larger establishments whose reports
were not received at the time the data were tabulated) were obtained from
administrative records of other agencies or developed from industry
averages. These establishments accounted for 13 percent of the total value
of shipments.