For American manufacturers, one major barrier to growth is finding skilled people to operate increasingly advanced equipment. NTMA member Lux Precision Manufacturing of Phoenix, Arizona, experienced that challenge firsthand. And instead of waiting for the right candidates to appear, Founder and CEO Weston Smith created a proactive talent pipeline.
Today, Lux Precision partners with Grand Canyon University (GCU) to provide students with classroom education and hands-on experience in a real precision machining environment. For Lux Precision, workforce development is directly connected to the company’s mission to “re-energize American manufacturing.” And its involvement with NTMA is part of this equation.
Lux Precision’s Unique Start in Contract Manufacturing
Of all the businesses we’ve had the pleasure of working with, Lux Precision easily has one of the more interesting origin stories. Weston didn’t grow up around manufacturing environments; rather, he found his way into the industry as a mechanical engineering student at GCU through his motorized skateboard company.
In 2017, Weston started an electric longboard rental business from his dorm room after noticing the demand for motorized skateboards on campus. About nine months later, frequent battery failures with the boards he purchased led him to look for a solution of his own. Using the university’s engineering labs, Weston developed a flexible battery pack using technology similar to what was being used in Tesla vehicles. This innovative spirit eventually led to the creation of Lux Longboards, Weston’s brand of motorized skateboards that tapped into an international manufacturing supply chain.
Eventually, COVID disrupted that supply chain. Though demand for electric longboards was increasing, many of the components needed to build them became difficult to source. Faced with those challenges, Weston took initiative and brought some of this production in-house by purchasing his very first CNC machine. Within about six months, Lux Longboards was machining its own components. Soon after, a medical device manufacturer whose supply chain had also been disrupted approached the company with an opportunity to enter the world of contract manufacturing. In a matter of months, Lux Longboards became Lux Precision Manufacturing, evolving from a brand-new CNC operation to a business capable of producing complex, tight-tolerance components for critical medical applications.
Their success in contract manufacturing prompted Lux Precision to invest in additional machinery and equipment to further expand its capabilities. That investment created a new challenge: they had the machines, but needed people who knew how to run them.
A Workforce Challenge Becomes an Opportunity
Weston approached GCU about developing a manufacturing workforce program that could combine classroom learning with practical experience. Together with GCU, Weston helped develop a CNC machining certification program in which the university provides the educational foundation while Lux Precision gives students hands-on experience working in an actual machine shop.
In this hybrid model, students learn CNC concepts in the classroom and then see what those concepts look like in production. They gain exposure to machines, processes, expectations, and the day-to-day environment of a contract manufacturing business. The program currently aims to reach approximately 900 students each year.
“We’re trying to re-energize American manufacturing,” Weston says. That means making parts to serve the industry, but also investing in the next generation of machining talent and creating a pipeline of people who can build careers in manufacturing.
The Power of a Manufacturing Community
Workforce development is one piece of Lux Precision’s growth strategy. Building relationships with other manufacturers through NTMA has been another.
Because Weston didn’t come from a traditional manufacturing background, networking with experienced manufacturers has been particularly valuable. Through the NTMA community, Weston has been able to connect with other shop owners and leaders, ask questions, exchange ideas, and build relationships with companies across the country.
According to Weston, “Successful businesses are built on relationships.” Relationships with peers have provided Lux Precision with advice and opportunities that extend beyond the city of Phoenix. NTMA’s network connects manufacturers across the country, but on a state level, it bridges manufacturers in large metropolitan areas with shops in smaller communities, creating opportunities to collaborate and even pass work between companies.
Weston currently serves as vice president of NTMA’s Arizona chapter, ATMA, and will become chapter president in January 2027, beginning a two-year term.
Investing in People = Investing in the Future of Our Industry
Lux Precision’s story demonstrates how manufacturers can approach workforce development from a different direction. Companies facing a talent shortage can play an active role in developing the people they need, starting before those candidates ever walk through the doors. That’s where the value of participating in a strong manufacturing community comes into play.
For manufacturers considering joining NTMA, Weston points to both the practical and relationship-driven benefits. NTMA’s partnership with PTSolutions, one of Lux Precision’s major suppliers, is one example of a benefit that can provide a direct return on investment in membership.
But the value of membership extends beyond those immediate savings. The right relationships can provide critical advice when you encounter a challenge, opening the door to new opportunities.
Whether you’re new to the industry like Weston was when he began or are an experienced manufacturer looking for a strong network to join, consider investing in your business with NTMA membership.
