It usually begins this way: “Do you know someone at the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) that does X or Y?”
The question most often comes from a TMA member via inperson conversation, an email, text, or phone call, and the search to assist that small or midsize manufacturer commences.
An array of recommendations may be made to the TMA team members, taking on the challenge of finding what the TMA member is looking for as a place to start. If that doesn’t produce results, somebody may distribute the query through the TMA-SIG.
However, sufficient answers are usually found among TMA’s Associate and Affiliate members, or TMA’s Supplier Network, thanks to TMA’s knowledgeable and experienced staff, recommendations from fellow members, and/or information found in TMA’s online member directory.
TMA Associate members are businesses that offer services, equipment, machinery, or materials unique to companies that qualify as manufacturer members that are not normally performed by manufacturer members.
Affiliate members consist of companies providing services to manufacturer members by neither manufacturer nor Affiliate members.
Together, the Associates and Affiliates create TMA’s robust Supplier Network.
And why do suppliers join TMA? To find businesses that benefit from or need the services they can provide.
Everyone wins.
TMA staff focuses on connecting needs with solutions
Justine Ewald, TMA’s Director of Member Engagement, and Sara-Ann Ellis, TMA’s Manager of Programming, are committed to connecting TMA’s manufacturer members with the valuable services and requested solutions offered by TMA Affiliate and Associate members.
“Affiliates and Associates provide services our manufacturer members need and are looking for,” Justine Ewald said. “Every manufacturer—sooner or later—needs to be connected to companies that answer questions about HR, sales, marketing, operations, banking, real estate and now, even automation and AI. We work to connect the different companies to potential solutions through TMA.”
Ewald said the resources for manufacturers among TMA’s Associate and Affiliate members are limitless; it’s just a matter of building relationships and connections so each other is aware of what is available.
One way to match TMA member needs and requests with TMA Affiliates and Associates is via TMA events.
Sara-Ann Ellis, who plans and oversees TMA’s event programming, works hard to make relationship-building between manufacturers and suppliers as pleasant and productive as possible. TMA offers an array of events to build interest and trust among the Association’s members.
“Whether that is having suppliers host an event or a webinar or partner with us on an event, we work to make sure suppliers’ brands are getting exposure to membership, as much as making members known by suppliers,” Ellis said. “Besides sponsoring events, we ask our members to think of ways to share their expertise with content that answers members’ questions.”
Ellis says that when considering how their services or products help TMA manufacturer members, TMA staff first identifies TMA members’ pressing pain points, and then taps appropriate suppliers to provide solutions. Together, they create ideas on how best to convey possible solutions for TMA members’ challenges.
Sharing Information Builds Connections
Those opportunities to share information can range from webinars to luncheons to plant tours or even ads placed in TMA communication sources, such as the weekly TMA E-News Bulletin, the periodic print TMA News Bulletin, and other TMA outreach sources, including TMA’s online news site, TMANews.com.
TMA Associate and Affiliate members are key to bolstering TMA member services among like-minded businesses focused on expanding and growing American manufacturing.
“While we want TMA events to be enjoyable and fun, it’s important to us that those events are never a waste of time for those who come out and join us,” Ewald said. “We respect their time and focus, and we want them to benefit in many ways as they connect with other TMA members.”
Finally, TMA’s online member directory is available 24/7/365 and updated in real time, but this edition of the TMA News Bulletin includes a supplement to recognize all of the Associate and Affiliate members.
“We hope that TMA members keep this edition on hand and reach out to fellow TMA members as sources for their company’s needs,” said Christopher Murin, TMA’s Director of Retention. “We look forward to hearing how we can help manufacturer members with connections to TMA Associate and Affiliate members—along with the array of services and partnerships TMA has with other companies.”
So, the next time a situation baffles you at your business, consider TMA a potential resource for finding a solution and browse the included Suppliers Guide or online member directory (login & password required).
Instead of wondering who could help, the answer could quickly become, “Hey, I know someone at TMA who does exactly what you’re looking for…”
For more information, see www.tmaillinois.org.
