2024 Engineering Insights Report

How Over 1,100 Engineers Are Reshaping Technical Information Discovery

The engineering landscape is evolving faster than ever. New technologies emerge daily, design cycles accelerate, and the sources engineers trust for critical technical information are fundamentally shifting. Traditional approaches to technical research are giving way to community-driven, peer-validated resources that prioritize real-world experience over marketing materials.
This comprehensive report, provided courtesy of EETech, reveals the hidden patterns behind how today's engineering professionals—from manufacturing floors to electronics labs to control systems—actually find, evaluate, and implement technical solutions. Based on extensive surveys of over 1,100 practicing engineers across three key disciplines, these insights expose significant gaps between how companies think engineers research and how they actually behave.
The results will surprise you. While manufacturer websites still lead, engineering forums and communities have emerged as the #2 most trusted source—often surpassing even Google search. More striking: engineers who actively participate in technical communities show markedly different information consumption patterns, with implications for how companies should reach and engage technical audiences.

Key Statistics from 1,100+ Engineers
Surveyed:

60% use manufacturer websites as primary source
55% rely on engineering forums and communities
45% want more product comparison content
Manufacturing, Control, and Electronics engineers studied

Uncover Critical Engineering Trends

Manufacturing Engineers

Discover how 141 manufacturing engineers prioritize information sources, with engineering forums ranking as their #2 choice after manufacturer websites.

Control Engineers

Learn why control engineers who frequent community forums place engineering discussions as their #1 information source, surpassing even manufacturer websites.

Electronics Engineers

Understand the information preferences of electronics engineers and how they balance technical depth with practical application needs.

What You'll Learn Inside:

Top information sources engineers rely on during the design process
Key differences between Next Gen and Career Professional engineers
Most desired types of technical content across disciplines
How engineers discover and evaluate new components
The rising importance of peer recommendations and forums
Content gaps and opportunities in technical communication
Generational shifts in information consumption patterns

Key Statistics from 1,100+ Engineers Surveyed:

Information Source Rankings:
1. Manufacturer website searches (60% usage)
2. Engineering forums/communities (55% usage)
3. Search engines (50% usage)
4. Distributor website searches (45% usage)
5. Co-workers/colleagues (45% usage)
Most Desired Content Types:
Product comparisons (top request)
Video tutorials and walkthroughs
Industry trend analyses
Theory-level technical articles
Written tutorials and guides
New Product Research:
75% start with manufacturer websites
60% use Google search
40% rely on distributor websites
35% seek peer recommendations
30% check engineering forums
Generational Differences:
Next Gen engineers use social media 2x more than Career Professionals
Career Professionals rely more heavily on co-workers and colleagues
Both groups prioritize manufacturer websites and forums equally

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The Future of Engineering Information is Here

This isn't just data—it's your competitive advantage. Understanding how engineers actually research and evaluate technical solutions gives you unprecedented insight into reaching, influencing, and serving the engineering community more effectively.
Whether you're an engineer looking to benchmark your research methods against industry peers, a technical marketer seeking to align your content strategy with actual user behavior, or a product manager trying to understand how engineers discover and evaluate solutions, this report provides the evidence-based foundation you need.
The engineering community is speaking. They're telling us exactly what they want: more peer-driven content, better product comparisons, deeper technical analysis, and authentic voices from practitioners who've solved real problems. Companies that listen and adapt will build stronger relationships with technical audiences. Those that don't will find themselves increasingly irrelevant in an ecosystem where community trust trumps corporate messaging.
Download now and discover how leading engineering organizations are already adapting their information strategies based on these insights. The data is clear, the trends are accelerating, and the opportunity to get ahead of the curve is available today.
Your engineering advantage starts with understanding how engineers actually work.