83 FR 63151 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 235 (December 7, 2018)

Page Range		63151-63152
FR Document		2018-26537
Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 235 (Friday, December 7, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 235 (Friday, December 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63151-63152]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26537]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Census Bureau


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The Department of Commerce will submit to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of 
information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.
    Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
    Title: Annual Survey of Manufactures.
    OMB Control Number: 0607-0449.
    Form Number(s): MA-10000.
    Type of Request: Reinstatement, with change of an expired 
collection.
    Number of Respondents: 55,000.
    Average Hours per Response: 3.5 hours.
    Burden Hours: 192,500.
    Needs and Uses: The Census Bureau is requesting a reinstatement 
with changes of the expired collection for the Annual Survey of 
Manufactures (ASM). The Census Bureau has conducted the ASM since 1949 
to provide key measures of manufacturing activity during intercensal 
periods. In census years ending in ``2'' and ``7,'' we mail and collect 
the ASM as part of the Economic Census covering the Manufacturing 
Sector.
    The Census Bureau allowed the previous clearance to lapse since ASM 
inquiries for survey year 2017 (collected in 2018) are cleared as part 
of the 2017 Economic Census (0607-0998). The Census Bureau is 
requesting reinstatement to continue annual collection of the ASM for 
survey years 2018, 2019, and 2020.
    The ASM collects data on employment, payroll, hours, wages of 
production workers, value added by manufacture, cost of materials, 
value of shipments by North American Product Classification System 
(NAPCS) product code, inventories, cost of employer's fringe benefits, 
operating expenses, and expenditures for new and used plant and 
equipment. The Census Bureau tabulates and publishes data for most of 
these items by two-digit through six-digit North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) levels. The Census Bureau also publishes 
ASM data by state at the two-through four-digit NAICS levels.
    Federal agencies use ASM data as benchmarks for their statistical 
programs, including the Federal Reserve Board's Index of Industrial 
Production and the Bureau of Economic Analysis' (BEA) National Income 
and Product Accounts. The Department of Energy relies on ASM estimates 
on the use of energy during production in the manufacturing sector. 
These data also are used as benchmark data for the Manufacturing Energy 
Consumption Survey, which is conducted for the Department of Energy by 
the Census Bureau. Within the Census Bureau, the ASM data are used to 
benchmark and reconcile monthly and quarterly estimates of 
manufacturing production and inventories.
    The survey also provides valuable information to private companies, 
research organizations, and trade associations. Industry makes 
extensive use of the annual figures on NAPCS product shipments for 
market analysis, product planning, and investment planning. State 
development and planning agencies rely on ASM data for policymaking, 
planning, and administration.
    The Census Bureau plans to make the following changes to the ASM 
data collection:

a. Elimination of the MA-10000(S)

    The MA-10000(S) questionnaire will be eliminated. Historically, all 
locations of multiple-establishment firms and large single-
establishment firms in the sample were asked to report on the MA-
10000(L) questionnaire. The remaining

[[Page 63152]]

single-establishment firms in the sample were asked to report on the 
MA-10000(S). In 2014, approximately 3,000 out of 51,000 sampled 
establishments received the MA-10000(S). This change will impact less 
than 6% of respondents. The MA-10000(S) was an abbreviated version of 
the MA-10000(L), and collected significantly less detailed data. Data 
not collected on the MA-10000(S) were imputed. Imputation rates and 
estimates will improve by eliminating the MA-10000(S). The MA-10000(L) 
will be renamed MA-10000 and all ASM establishments will be required to 
complete the MA-10000.
    The 2018 ASM will include two paths. The multiple-establishment 
firms will receive a questionnaire path that includes spreadsheet 
functionality. Firms will be able to enter data for their locations in 
a form view or select the spreadsheet option. Respondents have the 
ability to download, export, and import their spreadsheets. Respondents 
will have the option to ``add locations'' if there are establishments 
not listed for their firm. The path for single-establishment firms does 
not include spreadsheet functionality, or the ability to ``add 
locations''. The multiple-establishment path includes instructions and 
a question related to interplant transfers; single-establishment firms 
do not have interplant transfers.

b. Elimination of Item 5B, Exports and Item 11, Inventories Outside the 
U.S.

    Item 5B, Exports and Item 11, Inventories Outside the U.S. are no 
longer needed by either the International Trade Administration (ITA) or 
the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The elimination of these items was not 
documented in the ASM pre-submission notice dated July 13, 2018, 
because the decision was made after the notice was published in the 
Federal Register. Eliminating collection of these items has no impact 
on data users since these data items were not published as part of the 
ASM. Historically, exports data was used to publish the Exports from 
Manufacturing report, funded by ITA. This report was published by the 
U.S. Census Bureau and sponsored by ITA. https://www.census.gov/manufacturing/exports/. The Exports from Manufacturing report was 
discontinued by ITA in 2012, due to lack of funding.

c. Addition of Item 17, Principal Business Activity

    Item 17, Principal Business Activity on the MA-10000 will ask the 
respondent to identify their principal kind of business or activity. 
The question will pre-list suggested six-digit NAICS codes and 
descriptions for each establishment. The respondent will have the 
option to select the pre-listed NAICS that describes their principal 
business activity or to ``write-in'' their principal business activity 
if the pre-listed NAICS does not apply. Adding this question will help 
the Census Bureau identify out-of-scope establishments that do not 
conduct manufacturing activities and establishments which are 
classified in an incorrect manufacturing industry.

d. Change in Item 22, Product Classification

    Previously, Item 22, Details of Sales Shipments Receipts or Revenue 
was collected on a NAICS basis. Beginning with the 2018 ASM, the 
collection of Item 22 will be based on the North American Product 
Classification System (NAPCS). NAPCS is a comprehensive demand-based 
hierarchical classification system for products that is not industry-
of-origin based, but can be linked to the NAICS industry structure, and 
is consistent across the three North American countries. The primary 
objective of this product classification change is to identify, define, 
and classify the outputs produced and transacted (sold, transferred, or 
placed in inventory) by the reporting units within each industry 
regardless of their designation (intermediate or final). https://www.census.gov/eos/www/napcs/.

e. Elimination of Item 22, Miscellaneous Receipts

    Due to the implementation of NAPCS, it is unnecessary to collect 
Miscellaneous Receipts. In previous ASM survey years, products were 
collected using only manufacturing sector NAICS codes. Non-
manufacturing sector products, produced by manufacturing establishments 
were classified as Miscellaneous Receipts, which included contract 
work, resales, and other. NAPCS is an economy-wide solution, which 
allows ASM respondents to classify out of sector products in valid 
NAPCS codes.

f. Addition of Item 28, Special Inquiry on Robotic Use

    Add a new Special Inquiry, Item 28 on basic robotic use in 
manufacturing to gauge the prevalence of robotics use in the 
manufacturing sector across different geographies and by firm size. 
Questions will be added to collect the number of industrial robots in 
operation, the number of industrial robots purchased, and the value of 
capital expenditures for robotic equipment.

g. Item 29, Burden Estimate

    Firms will be asked to provide an estimate of how long it took to 
complete the MA-10000 questionnaire. Responses to this question will be 
used to re-evaluate the burden hours we impose on respondents, given 
the various question additions, changes and deletions we are making. 
The Census Bureau will submit a nonsubstantive change request to revise 
the burden of this collection if analysis indicates a change. Efforts 
to analyze paradata to assess burden are currently being evaluated. ASM 
instrument paradata shows time logged-in and patterns of movement 
through the instrument, but not time spent reviewing instructions and 
gathering the necessary data. Nor does it provide an indication of idle 
time while the respondent is logged in. Paradata can help the Census 
Bureau calculate the time spent in the instrument but may not be a true 
reflection of respondent burden.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Frequency: Annually.
    Respondent's Obligation: Mandatory.
    Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C., Sections 131 and 182.
    This information collection request may be viewed at 
www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce 
collections currently under review by OMB.
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice 
to [email protected] or fax to (202)395-5806.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2018-26537 Filed 12-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-07-P
63152 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 235 / Friday, December 7, 2018 / Notices

single-establishment firms in the sample kind of business or activity. The capital expenditures for robotic
were asked to report on the MA– question will pre-list suggested six-digit equipment.
10000(S). In 2014, approximately 3,000 NAICS codes and descriptions for each
g. Item 29, Burden Estimate
out of 51,000 sampled establishments establishment. The respondent will
received the MA–10000(S). This change have the option to select the pre-listed Firms will be asked to provide an
will impact less than 6% of NAICS that describes their principal estimate of how long it took to complete
respondents. The MA–10000(S) was an business activity or to ‘‘write-in’’ their the MA–10000 questionnaire. Responses
abbreviated version of the MA– principal business activity if the pre- to this question will be used to re-
10000(L), and collected significantly listed NAICS does not apply. Adding evaluate the burden hours we impose on
less detailed data. Data not collected on this question will help the Census respondents, given the various question
the MA–10000(S) were imputed. Bureau identify out-of-scope additions, changes and deletions we are
Imputation rates and estimates will establishments that do not conduct making. The Census Bureau will submit
improve by eliminating the MA– manufacturing activities and a nonsubstantive change request to
10000(S). The MA–10000(L) will be establishments which are classified in revise the burden of this collection if
renamed MA–10000 and all ASM an incorrect manufacturing industry. analysis indicates a change. Efforts to
establishments will be required to analyze paradata to assess burden are
d. Change in Item 22, Product
complete the MA–10000. currently being evaluated. ASM
The 2018 ASM will include two Classification
instrument paradata shows time logged-
paths. The multiple-establishment firms Previously, Item 22, Details of Sales in and patterns of movement through
will receive a questionnaire path that Shipments Receipts or Revenue was the instrument, but not time spent
includes spreadsheet functionality. collected on a NAICS basis. Beginning reviewing instructions and gathering the
Firms will be able to enter data for their with the 2018 ASM, the collection of necessary data. Nor does it provide an
locations in a form view or select the Item 22 will be based on the North indication of idle time while the
spreadsheet option. Respondents have American Product Classification System respondent is logged in. Paradata can
the ability to download, export, and (NAPCS). NAPCS is a comprehensive help the Census Bureau calculate the
import their spreadsheets. Respondents demand-based hierarchical time spent in the instrument but may
will have the option to ‘‘add locations’’ classification system for products that is not be a true reflection of respondent
if there are establishments not listed for not industry-of-origin based, but can be burden.
their firm. The path for single- linked to the NAICS industry structure, Affected Public: Businesses or other
establishment firms does not include and is consistent across the three North for-profit.
spreadsheet functionality, or the ability American countries. The primary Frequency: Annually.
to ‘‘add locations’’. The multiple- objective of this product classification Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory.
establishment path includes change is to identify, define, and Legal Authority: Title 13 U.S.C.,
instructions and a question related to classify the outputs produced and Sections 131 and 182.
interplant transfers; single- transacted (sold, transferred, or placed This information collection request
establishment firms do not have in inventory) by the reporting units may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov.
interplant transfers. within each industry regardless of their Follow the instructions to view
designation (intermediate or final). Department of Commerce collections
b. Elimination of Item 5B, Exports and
https://www.census.gov/eos/www/ currently under review by OMB.
Item 11, Inventories Outside the U.S.
napcs/. Written comments and
Item 5B, Exports and Item 11, recommendations for the proposed
Inventories Outside the U.S. are no e. Elimination of Item 22,
Miscellaneous Receipts information collection should be sent
longer needed by either the within 30 days of publication of this
International Trade Administration Due to the implementation of NAPCS, notice to OIRA_Submission@
(ITA) or the Bureau of Economic it is unnecessary to collect omb.eop.gov or fax to (202)395–5806.
Analysis. The elimination of these items Miscellaneous Receipts. In previous
was not documented in the ASM pre- ASM survey years, products were Sheleen Dumas,
submission notice dated July 13, 2018, collected using only manufacturing Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the
because the decision was made after the sector NAICS codes. Non-manufacturing Chief Information Officer, Commerce
notice was published in the Federal sector products, produced by Department.
Register. Eliminating collection of these manufacturing establishments were [FR Doc. 2018–26537 Filed 12–6–18; 8:45 am]
items has no impact on data users since classified as Miscellaneous Receipts, BILLING CODE 3510–07–P
these data items were not published as which included contract work, resales,
part of the ASM. Historically, exports and other. NAPCS is an economy-wide
data was used to publish the Exports solution, which allows ASM DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
from Manufacturing report, funded by respondents to classify out of sector
Census Bureau
ITA. This report was published by the products in valid NAPCS codes.
U.S. Census Bureau and sponsored by Submission for OMB Review;
f. Addition of Item 28, Special Inquiry
ITA. https://www.census.gov/ Comment Request
on Robotic Use
manufacturing/exports/. The Exports
from Manufacturing report was Add a new Special Inquiry, Item 28 The Department of Commerce will
discontinued by ITA in 2012, due to on basic robotic use in manufacturing to submit to the Office of Management and
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES

lack of funding. gauge the prevalence of robotics use in Budget (OMB) for clearance the
the manufacturing sector across following proposal for collection of
c. Addition of Item 17, Principal different geographies and by firm size. information under the provisions of the
Business Activity Questions will be added to collect the Paperwork Reduction Act.
Item 17, Principal Business Activity number of industrial robots in Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
on the MA–10000 will ask the operation, the number of industrial Title: Automated Export System.
respondent to identify their principal robots purchased, and the value of OMB Control Number: 0607–0152.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:56 Dec 06, 2018 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1
Document Created: 2018-12-07 01:52:27
Document Modified: 2018-12-07 01:52:27
Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
FR Citation		83 FR 63151
83 FR 63151 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCECensus Bureau

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 235 (December 7, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Census Bureau
