Form M-3(SD) Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders

Appendix A

FORM M-3(SD)
(01-13-2012)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Economics and Statistics Administration
U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS, INVENTORIES, AND ORDERS
FORM APPROVED: OMB NO. 0607-0008

EXPIRES 04/16/2015

NOTICE - This report is authorized by law (Title 13, United States Code). By Section 9 of the same law, your report to the Census
Bureau is confidential. It may be seen only by persons sworn to uphold the confidentiality of Census Bureau information and may
be used only for statistical purposes. The law also provides that copies retained in your files are immune from legal process.

Description:

CENSUS USE

See instructions on reverse side

RP

MC

#F

FP

AI

Please correct any errors in nam e, address, and ZIP Code.

PLEASE COMPLETE FORM
WITHIN 15 DAYS OF RECEIPT
TO START REPORTING VIA THE
INTERNET, use the User ID and
Original Password imprinted below.
Go to
http://www.census.gov/econhelp/m3
to report your data
or FAX FORM to 1-800-272-4096
U.S. Census Bureau
4600 Silver Hill Rd, MCD/M3
Washington, DC 20233-6900
www.census.gov/m3
CHANGE IN OPERATIONAL STATUS

Cen su s
con tact

Area Code

Number

You r
compan y
con tact

Area Code

Number

Ext

- Enter name and date in "Remarks"

User ID:
Original
Password:

Industry

CFN

Description of reporting items
(Definitions of terms are provided on the
back of the form)

Round figures to THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

1 Accounting Period
(SHADE ONLY ONE CIRCLE)

P

2 Net Shipments, Manufactured in U.S.

S

3
4

New Orders (Net of Cancellations)
[ If applicable ]

N

[ If applicable ]

U

Order Backlog (Unfilled Orders)

Total Inventories, Warehoused in
5 U.S. (Current Cost or Market)
Materials and Supplies

M

7

W ork-In-Process

W

Finished-Goods

F

REMARKS:

Cal. Mo.
4 week
5 week

Other
End. date

Cal. Mo.
4 week
5 week

Other
End. date

Cal. Mo.
4 week
5 week

Other
End. date

I

6

8

Ceased operations
Sold to another company - Enter name and date in "Remarks"
Acquired another manufacturing operation

CERTIFICATION
Title

This form is substantially accurate and has been prepared in accordance with the instructions.

Signature of authorized person

Date

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THIS FORM
GENERAL INFORMATION
A summary of the instructions for completing this form is provided below. A comprehensive instruction manual is available on
www.census.gov/m3. Clarification of instructions or definitions may be obtained by calling the Census contact on the front of the form or
by writing to: U.S. Census Bureau, 4600 Silver Hill Road, Washington, DC 20233-6900.
Purpose for this survey - This form is designed to collect shipments, inventories, and orders data from domestic manufacturing companies
for use in the preparation of industry estimates for 89 industry categories encompassing all manufacturing activities. These estimates are
widely used as indicators of our Nation's current economic condition and of changes in the business cycle. They also provide important
components for estimates of the gross domestic product (GDP) and related series.
An activity to be reported - A REPORTING UNIT is generally a division, subsidiary, or other operating unit as defined by your company
for financial or managerial purposes. Reporting units within the same industry category, as defined in the Instruction Manual, may be
combined for reporting purposes. Thus, a reporting unit could also be a complete company if the company operates predominantly in a single
industry category. The Census Bureau may request that very large units with diverse activities be subdivided along industry lines for
reporting purposes.
For the purposes of this survey, each reporting unit is to be reported as though a separate entity. Shipments (or sales) should include transfers
to other segments of your company, as well as the value of shipments to unaffiliated customers. Orders, where applicable, should include
orders from other segments of your firm. Finally, the reported figures should be limited to domestic operations (the 50 States and the District
of Columbia). Please note that while the activities of foreign subsidiaries should be excluded, export shipments to and orders from
foreign subsidiaries should be included.
Survey deadlines - The first press release for this survey is based on receipts through approximately the 18th of the month following the
accounting period, therefore please return your report form before this time.
Use of estimates - If actual figures are not available, reasonable estimates may be used for reporting. Please indicate in the “Remarks”
section if figures are estimates.
Comparability with previous reports - Please indicate in the “Remarks” section if there have been any changes in organization
(acquisitions or shipments) or accounting methods that affect comparability with previous reports. If there is a sale or purchase, indicate new
company’s name, address, phone number, and a company contact.
REPORTING DEFINITIONS
•

ACCOUNTING PERIOD – It is important that the data reported represent the manufacturing activities of the month specified.
Shade the one box that best describes the accounting period and its ending date for which you are reporting your firm’s
manufacturing activity. If you indicate “Other”, please provide the dates covered and describe in the “Remarks” section.

•

SHIPMENTS - Report net shipments (sales) made during the accounting period for your domestic manufacturing operations (do
not report year-to-date). Include shipments of products to other companies, individuals, U.S. Government agencies and foreign
customers, as well as shipments and transfers to other divisions or subsidiaries of your company. Shipments should be net, after
discounts and allowances, exclusive of nonmanufacturing activities.

•

NEW ORDERS - Report net new orders received during the accounting period, less cancellations. Include (1) the value of orders
received and filled during the accounting period; (2) orders received for future deliveries; and (3) the net value of changes to
existing contracts. Do not include orders requiring further negotiations, authorization, or funding before the order is final.

•

ORDER BACKLOG - Include orders, as defined above, that have not yet passed through the sales account.

•

TOTAL INVENTORIES - Report total inventories, warehoused in the U.S., regardless of where manufactured, at current cost or
market value, as of the end of the accounting period. If your inventories are subject to LIFO valuation, report the value prior
to the adjustment for the LIFO reserve. The reported figure should include all inventories in the 50 States and the District of
Columbia to which you hold title. Note: Unlike GAAP, do not deduct progress billings from the reported inventory line items, i.e.
inventories should be reported gross not net of progress billings.
The figure for total inventories should equal the sum of the data reported in the following three categories to the extent
permitted by your records:
•

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES - Report materials and supplies inventories as of the end of the accounting period.

•

WORK-IN-PROCESS - Report work-in-process inventories as of the end of the accounting period.

•

FINISHED GOODS - Report finished goods inventories as of the end of the accounting period.