Manufacturing 2014: The Freudenberg study sees the manufacturing industry in Germany confronted with eleven market challenges in 2014: At the top of the task ranking (at 80%) is increasing efficiency in order to counter the growing cost pressure in production. 76% of respondents see price pressure as a very big challenge. Pressure to innovate and shorter time-to-market follow in third place with 60%. Increasing customer demands (59%) and opening up international markets (57%) are the fourth and fifth most important market challenges for industrial SMEs.