Running a small to medium size machine shop is hard work. Unlike large manufacturers that have thousands of employees and plenty of funds at their disposal, smaller shops are all-hands-on-deck operations.
Owners of these shops are under immense pressure to lead a lean team while simultaneously driving the company’s growth. They’re often isolated at the top, unsure of how to address the challenges, doubts, and uncertainties they face while running their business.
If these frustrations sound familiar to you, you aren’t alone. The National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) was built with machine shop owners like you in mind.
As a US-based membership trade organization with well over 1,000 member companies, we provide a venue for small to medium sized precision machine shops to share knowledge, resources, and solutions that strengthen the future of manufacturing.
One of our favorite parts of running NTMA is helping shop owners collaborate through peer to peer networking opportunities. Our members say that this is one of the top benefits of our organization as well!
Benefits of Having a Peer to Peer Network of Precision Machinists
What’s so great about collaborating with your colleagues? Here’s what members love about peer to peer networking through NTMA:
A robust support network
Even the most confident and effective leaders need a support network of peers and potential mentors to connect with.
There probably aren’t many people in your daily life who can relate to running a manufacturing company. But your fellow shop owners understand the challenges and wins you experience every day.
Solving problems
If you’re dealing with a specific problem, chances are one of your peers has encountered it before—and can help you overcome it. Many NTMA members have developed their companies from the ground up and can offer sound counsel on how to run a successful shop.
Peer to peer networking is a great opportunity to exchange ideas and problem-solve for challenges like:
- Closing the manufacturing skills gap
- Employee attrition and hiring
- COVID-19 safety measures and protocols
- Compensation considerations (overtime, wage increase, salary incentives)
How NTMA Facilitates Peer to Peer Networking
Here’s how we create peer networking opportunities NTMA provides for members:
- Annual conferences. We host several in-person conferences each year, including the Emerging Leaders Conference, Manufacturing Engage 2021, NTMA Spring Conference, and NTMA Summer Conference. These venues are excellent opportunities for getting to know other industry experts, emerging leaders, and company founders.
- NTMA member drop-ins. These are twice a month virtual calls where members can connect with each other. During the member drop-ins, shop owners talk about a broad range of topics, from workplace challenges to employment opportunities to subcontracting needs.
- Emerging leaders group. Each year, we encourage managers and supervisors to nominate talented manufacturing professionals who show leadership promise for the future of the manufacturing industry. The chosen few get an opportunity to connect with one another, gain valuable recognition, and develop their skills and knowledge throughout the year.
- Local chapters. NTMA provides members with local access to education, social events, and industry networks. Each chapter offers activities and programming that are unique to the needs of the local area served.
What are you waiting for? Join NTMA today for instant access to our peer to peer networking offerings!
