Welcome to the AISC Business Barometer!

Please complete all questions to the best of your ability based on your Building Fabrication Business excluding Bridges.

Give us your forecast for the balance of 2026!
At the end of the survey, HIT "DONE" to submit your survey.

Please respond by October 19, 2026.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Jim Noon at Industry Barometer Reports LLC, jimn@industrybarometer.com.

Thank you!

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1. Geographic Area: Check Appropriate Locations For All Plants. (Required.)

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2. Your Current Building Fabrication Business:
Select the top 5 Areas of your business.

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3. How's Business Now?

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4. How Do You Expect Business To Be Six Months From Now?

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5. Current Business Indicators: How does current business activity compare to three months ago?

  Large Increase Slight Increase Same Slight Decrease Large Decrease
Tonnage Sold
Tonnage Shipped
Bidding Activity
Order Backlog
Profits
Lead Time on Fabricated Steel
Lead Time on Purchased Steel
Raw Material Prices

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6. What Is Your Current Order Backlog In Weeks?

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7. Compared to 3 months ago ( Last Quarter ), how many projects are being put on hold prior to construction, but not being cancelled outright?

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8. What's your forecast for the balance of 2026? (Do not report tons or $)
Type your forecast in the box

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9. LABOR CAPACITY:
Definition of Labor Capacity- The amount of shop labor currently employed vs the current shop labor achievable with all current resources fully engaged.
What is your Current Labor Capacity, as defined as a percentage, of Shop Labor currently employed vs capacity for additional shop labor?
Slide the Slider to select your preferred percentage or type percentage into the box on right.

0 Percent % 100
Clear
i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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10. Using the same definition above, What is your expected Labor Capacity for next quarter (3 months from now), as defined as a percentage, of Shop Labor Currently Employed vs Capacity for Additional Shop Labor?
Slide the Slider to select your preferred percentage or type percentage into the box on right.

0 Percent % 100
Clear
i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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11. SHOP CAPACITY:
Definition of Shop Capacity: A company’s booked production labor-hours compared to the available labor capacity in the noted quarters.

Which of the Following best describes your firm’s capacity situation?
Select one for each quarter.

  Current Quarter    Next Quarter
(3 Months from Now)
Working at or above 100 percent of shop capacity - could not increase current level of fabrication work without significant increase in investment/outsourcing/hiring to meet any increase in demand (robust conditions)
Working at 90 – 99 percent of shop capacity – small amount of available capacity to increase fabrication work above current level (steady and healthy conditions)
Working at 70 – 89 percent of shop capacity – a sizable amount of available capacity to increase fabrication work above current level (actively searching for opportunities to increase current conditions)
Working at 40 - 69 percent of shop capacity (desperate to increase backlog or consolidate business)
The upper options do not apply because we are intentionally working under capacity for new equipment, remodeling/refurbishing, or planned maintenance shutdown.

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12. FUTURE LABOR INVESTMENT:
If business conditions were ideal for your firm in 6 + months, what is your expected ability to invest, hire and meet increased demand?
Please choose only one option for your forecast for 6 months out.

Hit "DONE" at the bottom of the survey to submit it.

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