Global Process Automation Market (2013 – 2018) august 2014 | Page 19

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The quantitative and qualitative data collected for the process automation market report is from a combination of secondary and primary sources. Research interviews were conducted with senior executives and/or managers of leading process automation solution providers. These Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) were then provided a questionnaire to gather quantitative and qualitative inputs on their operations, performance, strategies and views on the overall market, including key developments and technology trends. Data from interviews is consolidated, checked for consistency and accuracy, and the final market numbers are again validated by experts. The global market was split by product types and geography based on different factors like primary and secondary sources, understanding of the number of companies operating in each segment and also KOL insights. We have used various secondary sources such as directories, articles, white papers, newsletters, annual reports and paid databases such as OneSource, Hoovers and Factiva to identify and collect information for extensive technical and commercial study of the process automation market. The following secondary sources were also used in the production of report and in triangulation of data points.  Automation Federation  International Society of Automation  Advancing safety in Medical Instrumentation  Shanghai Optoelectronics Trade Association  Control Systems Integrators Association  The Optical Society  Instrumentation & Measurement Society  Association of Medical Imaging Management  MEMS Industry Group The key players in the market and its value chain were identified through secondary research and their market opinions were also gathered in a similar way through telephonic interviews and questionnaires. We have also studied the annual reports of these top market players. Interviews with key opinion leaders such as directors, managers, marketing personnel were used extensively in understanding the need and emergence of process automation market. IndustryARC | 19