Research company Manufacturing Insights has released its 10 predictions for worldwide manufacturing in 2009, and among them are beliefs that manufacturers will continue to tighten their belts in the face of the sagging U.S. economy.

The top two predictions indicate companies will exploit assets, review IT budgets and be more cautious with investments.

According to the company, the predictions are part of its emerging agenda program from the last few years and planned research for the upcoming year.

Other predictions include a trend toward reusing past product designs and data, more usage of Web 2.0 tools, and a stronger focus on using metrics.

The complete list of predictions is as follows:

1) Companies will exploit existing tangible and, especially, intangible assets to ride out the financial crisis and prepare for recovery.

2) IT organizations will put budgets under severe review and new investments will require shorter payback periods.

3) Companies will "right size" their supply chains for profitable proximity; standard corporate platforms will seek to configure, calibrate, and control increasingly complex scenarios.

4) Supply chain technology initiatives must support the standard business platform and focus on modernization and decision making.

5) To serve the value imperative, manufacturing companies will revisit past product investments and look to reuse existing designs, technology, and knowledge.

6) Product management software will be geared toward harmonizing product information to rationalize and better position the product portfolio.

7) Effectively managing manufacturing assets has become something of a lost art but companies will realize that, given the challenging economic environment, it can be a significant competitive weapon.

8) Investments in digital manufacturing (preparation), modern execution platforms, product performance, and manufacturing intelligence will come together to begin to support the factory network of the future.

9) The urgency for better knowledge management via the use of Web 2.0 tools will increase due to volatile staffing scenarios; the quick and substantial return doesn’t hurt.

10) Sustainability discovers metrics; no longer a feel-good public relations proposition or even a regulatory compliance mandate; emerging standard measures and a desire to benchmark will impact sustainability initiatives and the associated investment in technology and services.