BME 417: Capstone Design I

Below are tips on ways to look for industry information. Check out our Business and Economics Databases library guide for additional resources. 

Although many databases can be searched by keyword, sometimes using the NAICS code is more efficient. NAICS (North American Industrial Classification System) is a 6-digit code used in business resources to represent a specific industry.  

The ABI/Inform database can be filtered to find business data and market reports. You can start with a Basic Search with a specific product (e.g., "wheelchairs) or product group (e.g., "medical devices"). Next, use filters on the left menu to whittle down your results. 

Under Document Type, reduce noise by excluding News, and include 

• Market Research
• Industry Reports
• Statistical/Data Reports 
• Market (Stock) Reports

Other good filters to adjust are Date Range and Company/Organization

First Research is a resource for Industry Profiles. You can search for reports by its title, text within a report, industry name or code, or search terms.

• If you have keywords ready, enter them in the Report Text or Search Term boxes, click Add, then click on View Results. If View Results is disabled, there are no results available, so try different keywords or queries.
• If you want to search by classification, make sure the correct classification system is selected. The default classification is D&B Hoover Industries, so if you are using NAICS, click on (Change), select NAICS 2022, then enter your code or industry name. A drop-down menu will appear for you to select the industry you want.  
• You can also browse the taxonomy of available reports by clicking on Browse Report Categories at the top. 

Depending on the industry, Industry Profiles may include: 

• Industry Overview
• Quarterly Industry Update
• Executive Insight
• Business Challenges
• Business Trends
• Industry Opportunities
• Financial Information
• Industry Forecast
• Critical Issues
• Links to profiles from related industries

Select the most current edition, and use the search box in the top right corner to search by keywords or NAICS code. Below the search box, check the option All volumes within this edition.

Depending on the industry, entries may include details, such as:

• General Statistics
• Indices of Change
• Selected Ratios
• Leading Companies
• Occupations Employed within this Industry
• Locations by State and Regional Concentration
• Industry Data by State
• Materials Consumed 
• Product Share Details
• Inputs and Outputs

Once in the database, click on the hamburger icon on the top left corner, and select Industry, then Reports. Four categories will appear: Industry, Supersector, ESG, and Mergent Reports. When you click on a category, available reports will appear. You can download these individually or in bulk (click on the checkboxes for the ones you want and click on "Download All Selected" at the top). 

The full report contains sections on:

• Current Environment
• Industry Profile
• Market Trends and Outlook