5 Ways CNC Job Shops Can Gain Visibility and Influence in the Industry

Metalworking job shops and contract manufacturers, like many industrial businesses across the U.S., are awaiting the real-world impact of policy shifts under the incoming Trump administration. From tax reforms and tariffs to immigration policies, infrastructure spending and regulatory changes, each proposal brings its own mix of uncertainty and opportunity.

Predicting how these changes will manifest over the coming months is guesswork at best, but there is one strategy for machine shop leaders and technology providers that is ambivalent to economic and political uncertainty. This benefits of this strategy include advocacy and representation for your shop, industry connection and visibility, industry influence, visibility into your leadership and innovation, and even a boost to your recruitment and retention capabilities. It is a strategy that will help prepare you for the future.

I am not a salesperson and what I’m about to suggest will cost you nothing but a bit of time: Engage with Modern Machine Shop. Share your shop’s story or your technology’s capabilities. Here’s why this is an invaluable opportunity — and how to do it, with five specific examples for the coming year:

1. Advocacy and Representation

Why: Sharing your shop’s story in Modern Machine Shop provides you with a platform to highlight the challenges that many shops face during times of uncertainty. Whether you are dealing with rising material costs or navigating a shrinking skilled labor market, your story can resonate with industry leaders and policymakers. Modern Machine Shop has the ear of influencers who drive change and help shape supportive initiatives.

How: Take a look at our 2025 Editorial Calendar. If you are a machine shop or technology provider who has something to say about any of these topics, reach out. Application stories, technology innovations and effective production processes that can be tied to any machining-related topic are fair game. We also report on the human side of our industry — succession planning, business strategies, management styles and workforce issues. We are especially interested in small- and mid-sized job shops and the technologies they deploy.

The more detail you can provide about your idea — why it’s important, what sets it apart and how it benefits our industry — the more likely it is that Modern Machine Shop will assign a writer and/or videographer to report your story.

2. Industry Connection and Visibility

Why: By having your shop or your technology featured, you can connect with industry peers facing similar challenges. As experienced shop owners and staff know, these connections foster a strong sense of community and open doors to collaboration. Moreover, increased visibility into your shop or technology can attract customers, suppliers or even skilled workers who see your story and view your shop as an innovative player in the industry.

How: In 2025, we are ramping up production of our “View From My Shop” (VFMS) video series. If you’re unfamiliar, “View From My Shop” is a shop tour video series that features insights from machine shop owners and managers across the country. The series provides a behind-the-scenes look at how different shops are managed, the challenges they face and the strategies they employ to succeed. The focus is typically on topics like improving efficiency, implementing new technologies, navigating industry trends and the personal experiences of those in the machining and manufacturing industry.

On top of that, whenever possible, we travel to your facility to film these tours in-person, at our expense.

3. Influencing the Narrative

Why: Since its debut in 1928, Modern Machine Shop has been instrumental in shaping how the manufacturing community responds to industry changes. By contributing your shop’s perspective and technology deployment strategies, you can help ensure that the voice of shops like yours are part of the larger manufacturing conversation. Engaging with MMS also offers a chance to influence how challenges like workforce shortages, tax changes or trade policies are framed and addressed.

How: Two years ago, Modern Machine Shop introduced a new technical conference aimed squarely at small- and mid-sized job shops seeking to increase production capabilities through automation. In 2025, TASC – The Automated Shop Conference will be a two-day standalone event taking place August 12-13, in downtown Indianapolis. While the conference is focused on technology and automation, conference presenters also address universal topics that impact all small- and mid-sized businesses. Mark your calendars now to attend. If you’re interested in being a featured speaker at TASC, submit your presentation idea on our website. 

4. Continuous Improvement and Best Practices

Why: Engaging with MMS is an excellent way to feature your shop or technology, but it is also an exchange. Through interviews and editorial collaboration, you might learn about other shops and ideas we’ve encountered and featured. Sharing your story might also lead to insights or solutions from readers and shop leaders who’ve faced similar hurdles and found creative ways to deal with them. This kind of exchange happens all the time — especially our events.

How: The 2025 Top Shops Conference this coming November 11 and 12 is going to be a must-see event. Taking place for the first time at the legendary NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, Top Shops will offer CNC machining professionals data-driven, peer-reviewed best practices for machining technology, shopfloor practices, business strategies and human resources. If you are interested in speaking at the event, check out the Speaker Application section on the website and submit your presentation abstract by April 25.

5. Demonstrating Leadership and Innovation

Why: During time of transition, demonstrating how your shop is responding proactively —  through investment in automation, workforce training, continuous improvement practices or other methods — positions you as an industry leader. A feature article or video by Modern Machine Shop validates those efforts and broadcasts them to a wide audience. By turn, this can also inspire other shops to adopt similar strategies, further elevating the industry.

How: This is the one recommendation in this roundup that is not strictly editorial in nature, but it is a new tool for tech providers worth mentioning here: Modern Machine Shop’s “Leaders in CNC Machining” program offers machining technology buyers an interactive infographic of trusted vendors. Since this is technically a sales tool, I’ll stop here, but I encourage you to give it a look.

In the meantime, best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year. And please stay in touch.