Forecasting Methodology<strong>Freedonia</strong> does not just collect and reprintdata; <strong>Freedonia</strong> develops data. Our analyststhoroughly investigate an industry byextensively interviewing key industryparticipants and analyzing informationfrom sources such as associations, governmentand trade literature. Once thisresearch is complete, <strong>Freedonia</strong> establishesone set of forecasts. All writing, editingand forecasting is done in-house to assurequality and consistency. In cases wheredata does not exist, <strong>Freedonia</strong> develops thedata based on input/output ratios, bills ofmaterials and flow charts. <strong>The</strong> followingchart summarizes <strong>Freedonia</strong>'s methodology.<strong>The</strong> <strong>Freedonia</strong>Economics <strong>Group</strong>Consistent frameworkof indicators on . . .• <strong>World</strong> Motor Vehicle Production• <strong>World</strong> Gross Domestic Product• <strong>World</strong> Population. . . and many others<strong>Freedonia</strong>In-house Research• Quantitative forecasting• Industry structure & marketshare analyses• Product analyses & forecastsMethodology for<strong>World</strong> <strong><strong>The</strong>rmoplastic</strong> <strong>Elastomers</strong>Extensive Interviews• Key participants• Industry experts• End-usersProprietaryElectronic Database• Trade publications• Government reports• Corporate literature• Online databases. . . and many others12<strong>World</strong> <strong><strong>The</strong>rmoplastic</strong> <strong>Elastomers</strong> #1553<strong>Freedonia</strong> Industry Study
About<strong>The</strong> <strong>Freedonia</strong> <strong>Group</strong><strong>The</strong> <strong>Freedonia</strong> <strong>Group</strong>, Inc. is a leading international industry study/database company.Since 1985, <strong>Freedonia</strong> has published 1,800 titles covering areas such asplastics, chemicals, coatings and adhesives, building materials, industrialcomponents and equipment, health care, packaging, household goods,security, and many other industries.<strong>Freedonia</strong> has produced a wide variety of titles, including:• Industrial Rubber Products• <strong><strong>The</strong>rmoplastic</strong> Compounding• <strong><strong>The</strong>rmoplastic</strong> <strong>Elastomers</strong>• <strong><strong>The</strong>rmoplastic</strong> Compounding by IndependentsBecause <strong>Freedonia</strong> is a reliable information source, our forecasts are citedin numerous publications such as <strong>The</strong> Wall Street Journal, <strong>The</strong> FinancialTimes, Chemical Market Reporter, Chemical Week and Plastics News.Advantagesof <strong>Freedonia</strong> ReportsIn-house operationsBecause all of our staff work at the same location, interactionbetween analysts and departments provides a strong systemof checks and balances.ConsistencyOur Economics <strong>Group</strong> develops indicators that are used byall analysts. <strong>The</strong>refore, every <strong>Freedonia</strong> study is based on a consistentset of economic assumptions (GDP, motor vehicle production,resident population, etc.).Reliable forecastsBecause all of our forecasts consider the environment inwhich a product or industry is operating, as well as threatsand opportunities to the market, <strong>Freedonia</strong> forecasts arereliable indicators of future performance.One-on-one interviewsAll studies are produced by conducting interviews with key industryparticipants and end-users.Proprietary electronic database<strong>Freedonia</strong>’s analysts can tap into an extensive in-house electronicdatabase containing corporate literature (including private companyinformation), trade publications, government reports and manyother sources of information.<strong>World</strong> <strong><strong>The</strong>rmoplastic</strong> <strong>Elastomers</strong> #1553Order form on last page13