Let’s face it: success looks a whole lot different today than it did 20 years ago. Success is no longer defined only by the size of your shop or the horsepower of your machines. For most manufacturers, the real competitive edge comes from something less tangible but immeasurably powerful: a robust manufacturing network.
Your network is where you’ll find new ideas, fresh perspectives, and answers to challenges you can’t solve alone. And one of the best ways to grow that network is to get out of the shop and attend industry events, such as Engage 2025, this year’s large-scale NTMA conference.
Why Shop Owners Need to Step Away to Move Forward
We know how tough it is to pull yourself away from the shop floor. As a leader, you’re constantly pulled in a dozen directions, and taking time off can feel like falling behind. But the truth is, if your shop can’t run without you for a few days, that’s a workforce development issue, not a scheduling one.
Industry-specific events like Engage present you with the opportunity to work on your business instead of in it. And the return on that investment can be substantial.
Don’t be handcuffed to your shop
You work hard to build your CNC machine business, but don’t let it trap you. Events give you exposure to new ideas and insight into how others are increasing production, improving workflows, and navigating challenges. Instead of staying stuck in the same battles every day, a strong manufacturing network gives you new tools and strategies to improve your business.
Staying in the shop keeps your world small. Getting out helps you solve real problems.
Investing in events = investing in yourself and your shop
Some business leaders hesitate at the cost of travel and registration. But ask yourself this: What’s the cost of staying stuck? Many shop owners tell us that even just one conversation they’ve had at previous events changed everything for them. Sure, it’s a cost, but it’s also an investment in manufacturing efficiency and growth.
The Power of In-Person Events
There’s certainly value in webinars and online networking opportunities. Listening to an insightful podcast or watching a webinar at your desk is practical, but they don’t give you what a room full of industry peers can. The true value of an event isn’t just the speakers or educational sessions; it’s the peer-to-peer conversations that happen between sessions, over coffee, or at dinner.
These are the moments when someone else’s story mirrors your own, and you walk away with a new strategy, a supplier lead, or a tool recommendation you hadn’t thought of. In other words, community leads to collaboration, and collaboration leads to solutions.
You’re Not Just Building Parts; You’re Building Relationships
Whether you’re new to owning a CNC machine shop or have been running a manufacturing business for decades, relationships are the engine that drives success. And those relationships come from engaging in trade organizations, attending events, and making time for conversations with people who understand your world.
At NTMA, we believe that community and collaboration are the keys to keeping American manufacturing strong, and that means connecting shop owners and manufacturing professionals across the country.
Want to see what a thriving manufacturing network looks like? Join us at Engage 2025 from October 7-10 in Detroit, Michigan. This year’s event features dozens of sessions, powerful roundtables, and an engaging keynote from One Voice, our advocacy team. But the greatest value of Engage is being in a room full of people who get what you do and want to help you do it better.
You deserve to invest in your business and yourself. Come be a part of a community that wants to see you win. Register for our Engage conference, and if you haven’t already, become a member of NTMA!