The MPI Group

What The MPI Group does

The MPI Group is a privately held U.S. management research firm founded in 2002 and headquartered in Shaker Heights, Ohio, that produces independent research, benchmarking tools, and thought-leadership content primarily for the manufacturing, distribution, and logistics sectors. The company maintains what it describes as one of the world's largest databases of financial, operational, and strategic performance metrics, drawn from more than 75,000 facilities, business units, and firms across North America, Europe, and Asia, with a longitudinal manufacturing panel running annually since 2003 and spanning over 20 manufacturing sectors and respondent companies from $10 million to over $10 billion in revenue. Core offerings include the MPI Manufacturing Study, MPI Industry 4.0 Study, MPI Distribution & Logistics Study, MPI Disruptive Technologies Study, and the more recent 2025 Supply Chains and AI Study, sold as one-time licensed datasets at $12,000 for core manufacturing data, alongside subscription benchmarking toolkits priced at $395 for 3 months and $995 for 12 months of access.

Underlying these products is a proprietary methodology comprising a White Space Review process that ensures unique research deliverables, a respondent sourcing engine that targets panelists by industry, job title, location, and corporate revenue size and enables 1-4 week fielding, and a multi-layer data validation stack including answer plausibility ranges, numerical and statistical checks, completion-time comparisons, and unique-IP verification. These capabilities support typical 100-400 participant bespoke research projects delivered in 6-8 weeks and underwrite both syndicated studies and white-labeled client deliverables.

MPI monetizes across four streams: one-time data licenses for flagship studies, recurring subscription access to benchmarking toolkits, bespoke professional-services research with white-label thought-leadership outputs (white papers, webinars, keynotes), and data licensing of its proprietary metrics database. The go-to-market is sales-led and CEO-anchored, complemented by direct e-commerce via the MPI Store, co-sponsorship arrangements with consulting and IT firms, and association partnerships (NAFEM, MAGNET, Naylor). Primary customers include leading global professional services firms, IT companies, trade associations, B2B publishers, and manufacturing companies; the firm has operated for 23 years under founder and CEO John R. Brandt without disclosed institutional investment.

Name

The MPI Group

Legal name

The MPI Group

Website

https://mpi-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The MPI Group is a privately held U.S. management research firm that produces independent benchmarking studies, benchmarking toolkits, and thought-leadership content for manufacturing, distribution, and logistics, serving consulting firms, IT companies, trade associations, and B2B publishers with a database spanning 75,000+ facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ohio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Industry Research Studies: MPI-branded studies including the MPI Manufacturing Study, Industry 4.0 studies, Distribution & Logistics studies, and Disruptive Technologies studies. Clients can purchase, license, or co-sponsor these reports.
2. Benchmarking Toolkits: Online benchmarking toolkits providing access to thousands of benchmarks. Available in 3-month and 12-month subscription formats for manufacturers and distribution/logistics companies.
3. Bespoke Research Services: Custom research projects conducted for consulting, IT, and other firms. MPI manages research to standards, with deliverables branded to the client who owns inputs and thought leadership outputs. Typical projects with 100-400 participants completed in 6-8 weeks.
4. Data Licensing: Clients can license MPI's proprietary database of financial, operational, and strategic performance metrics collected from thousands of facilities and firms for their own use.
5. Thought Leadership Content: MPI creates and delivers thought leadership content including white papers, articles, blogs, infographics, webinars, keynote presentations, and social media content for clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The MPI Group conducts independent research, analysis, and benchmarking on manufacturing, distribution, logistics, and supply chain performance for corporate leaders. It sells MPI-branded research studies and reports, subscribable online benchmarking toolkits, custom/bespoke research engagements, and thought-leadership content for consulting firms, IT companies, trade associations, and B2B publishers. Deliverables are backed by one of the world's largest databases of plant-level financial, operational, and strategic performance metrics covering more than 75,000 facilities and firms.

Product overview

The MPI Group offers a portfolio of research studies and benchmarking software tools for manufacturing and distribution companies. The core products include the MPI Manufacturing Study (conducted since 2003 with data from over 20 manufacturing sectors), the MPI Industry 4.0 Study tracking digital transformation, the MPI Distribution & Logistics Study, and the MPI Disruptive Technologies in Manufacturing Study. These research products are complemented by the Manufacturers Benchmarking Toolkit and Distribution & Logistics Benchmarking Toolkit, which are online software tools that enable organizations to assess their digital maturity and benchmark performance against industry peers. The company also produces thought leadership content through its blog platform and has launched the 2025 Supply Chains and AI Study as a new research initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MPI Manufacturing Study Annual flagship manufacturing research covering more than 20 sectors, providing plant-level data on human resources, operations, supply chain, capacity/equipment/IT, sustainability, and strategic performance metrics; sold as a one-time perpetual license and used by consulting firms, IT companies, universities, and manufacturers.
• MPI Industry 4.0 Study Multi-edition research study tracking manufacturers' adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies and the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and the evolution of digital transformation in manufacturing.
• MPI Distribution & Logistics Study Research study of U.S. distribution and logistics operations, including raw data from 224 anonymous executive responses, covering performance benchmarks for warehouses and distribution centers.
• MPI Disruptive Technologies in Manufacturing Study Research examining manufacturers' perspectives on disruptive technologies including robotics, artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, and analytics.
• 2025 Supply Chains and AI Study Foundational research study on how high-performance supply chains use and benefit from AI, examining adoption drivers, barriers, investment levels, and performance outcomes such as return on invested capital and cash-to-cash cycle time.
• Manufacturers Benchmarking Toolkit Online assessment and benchmarking tool enabling manufacturers to measure digital maturity and benchmark performance, offering 3-month and 12-month subscription options with access to thousands of benchmarks from U.S. manufacturers.
• Distribution & Logistics Benchmarking Toolkit Online benchmarking tool providing access to thousands of benchmarks from U.S. warehouses and distribution centers; sold as 3-month ($395) or 12-month ($995) subscriptions.
• Bespoke Research Services Custom research projects conducted for consulting, IT, and other firms; deliverables are branded to the client who owns inputs and thought leadership outputs, typically engaging 100-400 participants and completed in 6-8 weeks.
• Data Licensing Licensing of MPI's proprietary database of financial, operational, and strategic performance metrics collected from thousands of facilities and firms for clients' internal or downstream use.
• Thought Leadership Content Services Custom thought-leadership content production and delivery for clients, including white papers, articles, blogs, infographics, webinars, keynote presentations, and social media content developed from MPI research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Survey fielding completed in as little as 1-4 weeks
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• U.S. Department of Commerce / NIST MEPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPI collaborated on the Digital Transformation for Manufacturers project, funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce through a NIST MEP cooperative agreement award. This resulted in the Digital Transformation for Manufacturers Program, a collaboration of Ohio MEP, Ohio Development Services Agency, Ohio Manufacturing Institute, and The MPI Group.
• Ohio MEPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Digital Transformation for Manufacturers Program funded by NIST MEP, where Ohio MEP served as the lead organization coordinating with MPI for research and benchmarking.
• Ohio Development Services AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with MPI on the Digital Transformation for Manufacturers Program to provide digital transformation resources and gemba walk guides for manufacturers.
• Ohio Manufacturing InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with MPI on the Digital Transformation for Manufacturers Program to support Ohio manufacturers with digital transformation resources.
• MAGNET (Manufacturing Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMPI and MAGNET collaborated on multiple research reports and studies for manufacturers, including reports on real-time information, supply chain, global engagement, and IoT/profitability topics. MAGNET is the Northeast Ohio manufacturing association.
• Naylor Association SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted a joint webinar with MPI on 'Turning Insights into Impact: How Associations Use Data to Drive Revenue', featuring MPI CEO John Brandt and Bill Rowan of Naylor.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IDC: IDC is a global market intelligence and advisory firm covering IT, telecommunications, and operational technology. It is comparable to MPI in providing survey-based research, benchmarks, and custom insights to enterprise IT and operations buyers.
• IndustryWeek: IndustryWeek is a major manufacturing media brand (formerly led by MPI's founder) covering manufacturing operations, technology, and leadership. It is comparable as an editorial reference for manufacturing performance, though distributed as media rather than paid research.
• Forrester Research: Forrester Research is a global research and advisory firm providing data, insights, and consulting. It is comparable to MPI in delivering subscription-based research, custom surveys, and strategic advisory to enterprise technology and operations clients.
• Gartner: Gartner is the largest global IT and business research and advisory firm. It is comparable as a research incumbent that also provides benchmarks, surveys, and advisory to enterprise IT and operations leaders, though at much larger scale and broader scope.

Direct peers

• APQC: APQC is a benchmarking and best practices research organization serving enterprises and consultants. It is comparable to MPI in providing process benchmarks, maturity models, and performance measurement tools to member organizations and consulting firms.
• Aberdeen Strategy & Research: Aberdeen is a research and benchmarking firm providing insights and analytics to B2B technology and services buyers. It is comparable to MPI in publishing benchmark reports, maturity models, and data-driven research for B2B audiences and consulting firms.
• LNS Research: LNS Research is an advisory and research firm focused on industrial transformation, manufacturing, and supply chain. It is comparable to MPI in providing benchmarks, research subscriptions, and advisory services to manufacturing and operations leaders across similar verticals.
• ARC Advisory Group: ARC Advisory Group is an industrial research and advisory firm covering manufacturing, supply chain, and operational technology. It is comparable to MPI in providing market research, benchmarks, and advisory to industrial enterprises and technology vendors with overlapping buyer personas.
• Manufacturing Leadership Council: MLC is a manufacturing executive research organization providing research, benchmarks, and best practices to manufacturing leaders. It is directly comparable to MPI's Manufacturing Study in serving operations executives with transformation and performance insights.

Emerging players

• Tech-Clarity: Tech-Clarity is a research and advisory firm specializing in manufacturing software and technology adoption. It is comparable to MPI's manufacturing technology adoption research (Industry 4.0) and works with overlapping manufacturing and IT clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nextgenmfg
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheMPIGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-mpi-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The MPI Group