Obstacles to information integration abound (sidebar)

This Web-based survey, which drew 217 qualified responses, was conducted on Packworld.com in July 2003. Only responses from packaging end users were tabulated; supplier responses were discarded. Chief industries represented included food, medical/pharmaceutical, nonfood consumer products, beverages, and industrial products. Respondents were most likely to work in the production or plant management, though a mix of others responded. The survey represented an even mix of small, medium, and large companies across the U.S., plus a few from overseas.