Dedham, MA — The worldwide DCS market including hardware, software, and services is expected to grow 2.5% per year from $9.1 billion in 2002 to more than $10.3 billion in 2007, according to a new study titled, "DCS Worldwide Market Outlook and Forecast: 2002-2007," released July 8 by ARC Advisory Group. ARC adds that it has scaled down its projections for growth in the DCS market since its previous study.

"Our analysis shows that the market declined by more than 2% between 2001 and 2002," says Larry O'Brien, ARC's research director and study author. "Persistent and global economic weakness with limited capital spending in the process industries will result in the market growing less than 1% between 2002 and 2003. Growth through 2007 will improve, so that the average annual rate for the study forecast period is 2%."

The study also found that demand-side lethargy will likely delay recovery. Demand-side indicators for manufacturing remain weak in both North America and Europe. U.S. industrial production declined overall by 0.5% and U.S. manufacturing output also decreased by 0.2% in March of 2003.

Likewise, U.S. capacity utilization, a key indicator for spending trends in automation, remains well below the 80% usually required for manufacturers to move into expansion mode. Capacity utilization for total U.S. industry actually decreased by half a percent to 74.8% in 1Q03, compared to the same period a year earlier.