What Is A Machine Shop?

Due to the disparate nature of their work, machine shops typically own and operate a variety of manufacturing equipment. The equipment or machine tools deployed by machine shops vary by the type of operation they are required to perform, the size of the parts they must process, and the precision of the machining operations. Machine shops utilize mills, lathes, drills , presses and grinders among other machines to cut or form metal into precise shapes and dimensions. Most machine shops utilize both manual equipment and equipment that is Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC). CNC machining enables complex shapes to be machined with less labor and a higher degree of precision. Combined with computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), machine shops are reaching new heights in productivity.

To enhance their offering, many machine shops provide value-added services such as pre-production design assistance, finishing, assembly and testing services. Machine shops serve vital industries such as defense, automotive, aerospace, appliance, business machines, electronics, agricultural implements, ordnance, transportation, environmental, construction equipment, nuclear, and many more. In point of fact, nearly every manufacturer does business at one time or another with a machine shop.

Historically, most machine shops have marketed themselves to local manufacturers because it was cost effective and because many of these manufacturers required close technical consultation. While this marketing approach has enabled many profitable long-term buyer/supplier relationships, machine shops become vulnerable to loss if too much of their machining business is focused on one or two customers. An unfortunate downturn in an industry or a local economy may be devastating. Larger, more progressive machine shops often mitigated these risks by extending their marketing reach through industrial journals, trade shows and directories. In the past these machine shop marketing techniques proved effective but they are now producing diminishing returns.

Today, the internet and collaborative manufacturing toolsets like those found at sourceauthority.com enable machine shops of all sizes to market and serve manufacturing buyers and engineers efficiently whether they are next door, across the country or around the world. SourceAuthority.com is the only online marketplace focused exclusively on U.S. contract manufacturing and machine shops. The website empowers manufacturing buyers and suppliers with quick, easy-to-use tools for streamlining the Request for Quote (RFQ) and supplier discovery processes. The marketplace approach has revolutionized the way that buyers find and qualify critical sources of supply and how machine shops and other contract manufacturers market themselves.

While technology is enabling manufacturing buyers and engineers to access a broader range of machine shops, the rules for supplier selection remain the same. When considering a machine shop for inclusion into a supply chain, it is important to remember that price is just table stakes. While pricing will always be a major issue, consistent product quality, the ability to meet machining production deadlines and the ability to provide engineering support are factors that demand attention.

Find Qualified Machine Shops on SourceAuthority.com
SourceAuthority.com brings qualified machine shops within easy reach. Register now and create Request for Quotes to find qualified CNC machine shops and cost effective solutions.