Dr. Al Bates, President
The Profit Planning Group
Boulder, Colorado

By almost any measure that can be used, 2009 was a tough year. However, even in the midst of a difficult econo­my, profit opportunities continued to exist. Just as in good times, some firms didn’t merely survive—they pros­pered. Understanding just how firms adapted to changing circumstances to keep generating adequate profits provides a basis for both immediate action and for future planning.

The recently completed 2010 EASA Operating Performance Report (of 2009 data) provides detailed financial and operating benchmarks for the in­dustry. As always, the primary benefit of the report is that it highlights the distinction between the performance of the typical firm and the high-profit firm. The differences are important in normal times; they are critical in tough times. (The following is based on 109 participants in the EASA 2010 Operating Performance Survey.)

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