What industry are you in?

[MBG]

I am access to a VMC machine and possibly purchase one myself. I am just curious how do I get started? I live in tampa,florida. What industry needs parts made? Better yet what type of businesses need parts made? I know the industrys but what particular businesses need parts made?


Please let me know.

-garrett

[Runner4404spd]

if it was that easy to pry open someones list of customers then that company would go out of business very quickly. i suggest you start like everyone else and go knock on some doors.

[MBG]

Originally Posted by Runner4404spd if it was that easy to pry open someones list of customers then that company would go out of business very quickly. i suggest you start like everyone else and go knock on some doors.

I am just looking for who uses machine shops on a regualr basis besides the government and stuff.

I noticed there is a food industry I have no idea what "food industry" uses machine shop services. Does the local grocery store need a machine shop?

Please if you can steer me in the right direction.

[Runner4404spd]

i didn't want to sound like a Jacka$$ before but really i don't know if the grocery store in your area needs a cnc machinist. go knock on the managers door and find out. if they do let me know. maybe even post it here so everyone knows and can go knock on their stores doors.

aside from the usual goverment and stuff, there is automotive, aerospace, nautical, industrial, environmental, etc. that all need parts and things made from time to time. the hard part is finding the companies that want to do business with you.

[Mcgyver]

Originally Posted by MBG I Does the local grocery store need a machine shop? .

of course they do! how else do you get the tapers turned on the carrots?

[mxtras]

From the looks of the carrots in my grocery store, they need a better machinist.

I am just sayin...

[mxtras]

Ok. Seriously. Finding work for a shop can be tough. Most work goes to shops where either someone's buddy works or to a shop that has established a solid reputation for well rounded customer service - good pricing, fast turn around and quality that meets or exceeds the customer's expectations. A lot of times it's not who you know, but who knows you. If you think that opening your trenchcoat (your shop) is going to get the women (parts or contracts) to come running, you are halucinating. Having a well outfitted shop is less than 20% of the game - finding customers and keeping them is the part that is sometimes impossible, unless you have something nobody else in your area has - like the largest lathe, largest heat treating furnace, longest grinder or whatever.

It might be a better idea to come up with a product or two that you can make for a niche market - like parts for remote control cars, or something along those lines. Maybe branch into powder coating or anodizing or polishing. Offering a variety of services can fill gaps in orders and it can also bring unique jobs or opportunities.

It's not an easy game to play.

Scott

[MBG]

Originally Posted by mxtras Ok. Seriously. Finding work for a shop can be tough. Most work goes to shops where either someone's buddy works or to a shop that has established a solid reputation for well rounded customer service - good pricing, fast turn around and quality that meets or exceeds the customer's expectations. A lot of times it's not who you know, but who knows you. If you think that opening your trenchcoat (your shop) is going to get the women (parts or contracts) to come running, you are halucinating. Having a well outfitted shop is less than 20% of the game - finding customers and keeping them is the part that is sometimes impossible, unless you have something nobody else in your area has - like the largest lathe, largest heat treating furnace, longest grinder or whatever. It might be a better idea to come up with a product or two that you can make for a niche market - like parts for remote control cars, or something along those lines. Maybe branch into powder coating or anodizing or polishing. Offering a variety of services can fill gaps in orders and it can also bring unique jobs or opportunities. It's not an easy game to play. Scott

Thanks for your advice. I know all about the have your own product. I noticed that almost every job I had in machining they manufactured their own product. The ones that didn't have their own product either lost that contract because they company wanted to do it in house or china.

[fpworks]

mxtra's advise is on the money.

Making parts for other people is extremely difficult. That market is cut-throat and the lowest bidder usually gets the work. And when you establish a customer, you'll have other machine shops fighting and clawing at your customers to get their foot in the door. If your customer is willing to listen just for a second, that other shop WILL beat your price...now your work is worth less to your customer.

Now, some buyers have realized that they get what they pay for, and will gladly pay more for great customer service and high quality and consistent parts. But they already have a relationship with a supplier and won't listen to you.

I started off in that market, but realized I couldn't make money there. Then, we started making our own products. Our business decisions and the market control the value of our products, not somebody else with a Bridgeport in their basement, or a shop willing to lose money just to get in the door. But I will say, to be successful with your own product, you will also have to be a better businessman than a machinist.

[Switcher]

The big money is both Gov. & Industrial jobs, at least at my job.

Save yourself some time, forget automotive (unless you get lucky & find a niche).

If I had only one cat. to pick from it would be Industrial jobs, most of them will pay a high price for good work. Automotive is usally low dollar high quanity jobs (again unless you get lucky & find a niche market).

A little note about other companies under bidding you. We had this 1 company that kept (non-stop) trying to low ball us on price, hell it got down to almost the cost of material, they kept on with threats of taking the job someplace else, after about a year of this we finally told them they can have the job back (see ya!). Heck it's not like we lost money, If anything it freed up a dedicated screw machine to run other jobs on. Anyway, about a year after they pulled the job from us, they called back saying they really needed us to run that same ole job that they pulled from us, here is the funny part, when we said ok, but It will cost more than when we ran that very first part some 2 years ago (take it or leave type of thing. ). What had happend was the new supplier they ran to, that underbid us, pretty much ran crappy parts, hey you get what you pay for.

My point is, run the very best parts you can, & make quality number one, If they ever leave you, chances are they will be back...


.

[Arty 3000]

man, you guys are killing me with the STORE joke. carrots? knock on the door and ask the manager? hahhahahhahahahhahahha man that is funny as hell. i would love to see the look on that guys face when he ask him. PRICELESS.

[MBG]

Originally Posted by Switcher The big money is both Gov. & Industrial jobs, at least at my job. Save yourself some time, forget automotive (unless you get lucky & find a niche). If I had only one cat. to pick from it would be Industrial jobs, most of them will pay a high price for good work. Automotive is usally low dollar high quanity jobs (again unless you get lucky & find a niche market). A little note about other companies under bidding you. We had this 1 company that kept (non-stop) trying to low ball us on price, hell it got down to almost the cost of material, they kept on with threats of taking the job someplace else, after about a year of this we finally told them they can have the job back (see ya!). Heck it's not like we lost money, If anything it freed up a dedicated screw machine to run other jobs on. Anyway, about a year after they pulled the job from us, they called back saying they really needed us to run that same ole job that they pulled from us, here is the funny part, when we said ok, but It will cost more than when we ran that very first part some 2 years ago (take it or leave type of thing. ). What had happend was the new supplier they ran to, that underbid us, pretty much ran crappy parts, hey you get what you pay for. My point is, run the very best parts you can, & make quality number one, If they ever leave you, chances are they will be back... .

CNC work though right?

I know you can't be competitive with manual machines and a welder but that is all I got.

I was thinking about learning how to repair and rebuild hydraulics

Anybody help me out?