Access to talented workers capable of supporting innovation is the key factor driving global competitiveness at manufacturing companies - well ahead of “classic” factors typically associated with competitive manufacturing, such as labour, materials, and energy, according to Deloitte’s 2010 Global Manufacturing Competitiveness Index.

The index is based on the responses of more than 400 chief executive officers and senior manufacturing executives worldwide to a survey conducted in late 2009 and early 2010. It also draws on select interviews with key manufacturing decision makers.

The report identified the emergence of a new group of leaders in the manufacturing competitive index over the next five years. These include Mexico, Poland, and Thailand, countries not always considered alongside longer-standing, up-and-comers like Brazil and Russia.

Not unexpectedly, Asian giants like China, India, and the Republic of Korea are projected to dominate the index in five years, as they do now. The dominant manufacturing superpowers of the late 20th century - the United States, Japan, and Germany - are expected to become less competitive over the next five years.

The report identified a clear geographical divergence in the perception of public policy support for competitiveness. Most respondents from China think that their government makes competitiveness easy compared to respondents in Europe and the United States, with 70 per cent of them citing government support of science, technology, and innovation as advantageous.