Expanding Modern Machine Shop

Whoa! I’m still almost as startled by the new look of Modern Machine Shop magazine as you might be, even though we’ve been planning it for months. Our September issue marks a change from our traditional digest-size format to a size similar to the technical manuals and engineering books you are probably familiar with. We’ve also redesigned the inside from cover to cover, as you can see if you receive the magazine. (If you don't, click on the "Subscribe" link above.) 

These changes were the best way for us not only to strengthen the print edition of Modern Machine Shop but also to integrate print content more fully with MMS Online, which has also undergone a redesign. Changing to a larger, more readable format for the print magazine allowed us to create a contemporary look intended to appeal to those entering the industry while at the same time staying connected to the experienced part of the manufacturing workforce. Together, the improvements to our magazine and Web site will help you discover new ideas and do deeper research as needed. The entire “MMS brand” provides better access to the right information, in the right way and at the right time.

The experience of participating in the resizing and redesign of themagazine reminded me of what it was like when a new room was added at home recently. My family and I had lived in the house for 25 years before building the new space. We wanted and needed the expansion because our lifestyle had changed over the years. However, the new addition further changed our lifestyle as we entertained friends more often, let the kids have bigger parties and enjoyed more comfortable living space. Yet I still sometimes walk past the new entryway that replaced the old dining room window and pause a moment, both amazed and pleased with the transformation.

Similarly, the “lifestyle” of America’s metalworking companies has changed considerably since MMS’s first issue appeared 80 years ago. The kind of information and the depth of knowledge required by shops and plants today are much different than they were even a few decades ago. Metalworking companies are figuring out how to be competitive in the face of global market forces, rising costs and stricter regulation. We expect MMS to be a key resource for promoting this transformation and leading it forward.

Thus, the magazine and its Web site have been transformed to fulfill these functions as effectively as possible. I sincerely hope that you find MMS more useful and valuable than ever, yet have occasional moments in which you find the transformation both remarkable and welcome.