Agile Manufacturing Benchmarking Consortium
This Texas-based association is committed to "the analysis and improvement of business processes in the manufacturing industry and related industries." This site offers the standard membership services, but also presents a massive linkfest for machining and manufacturing professionals, inside or outside of Texas.

American Gear Manufacturers Association
AGMA is a full service trade association representing 400 manufacturers and users of gears and gearing products, suppliers of equipment and services to the gear industry, individual consultants and academicians.

AGMA's Web site is "geared" (OK, like we weren't gonna use THAT one here) toward serving the standard association fare, but that's a good thing. Their site is VERY easy to navigate: it gets you in touch with the data you're looking for, and gets you on your way. Training, books and a comprehensive directory of gear services and products are available. Of particular note is a wonderfully simple but effective Product Locator. Try it, and you'll see what we mean. If you make gears, or are looking for someone that does, this site and association may be for you.

American Machine Tool Distributors' Association
AMTDA has retooled, restructured and completely redone their Web site. The even have a new URL (www.amtda.org). The site is built for growth, and contains many new features, including a partnership involving the powerful techspex online database of machine tools. A must-see on the Web for anyone looking for, or interested in, machine tools.

AMTDA's machine search powered by techspex offers a remarkable utility for research-minded machining professionals, with searchable and browsable lists across eight machine categories, distributor and geographic atrributes, and more. RFQs may also be submitted through the AMTDA/techspex engine. As techspex continues to expand its data and related services, so too does the AMTDA site grow for manufacturers as a valuable research tool.

American Mold Builders Association
AMBA represents the moldmaking and mold building shops of North America through networking, lobbying, and support. Their Web site offers books, reports, training materials, a calendar of events, and business forecasting data. Also offered are extensive member databases and a "Buyer's Guide" -- they offer contact with the vast moldmaking community that AMBA serves.

American Productivity and Quality Center
The APQC "solves business problems in the areas of metrics, measurement, best practices, process improvement, benchmarking, and knowledge management." Within this site, which offers promotional info about their consulting and members services, you'll find an extensive online library of studies and reports. The library is open to members and the general public, but registration is required to get to the data.

AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology
Online home to the Premier Manufacturing Association. Parent organization of IMTS. Isn't that enough?

Obviously not. AMT has given its site a facelift and reoganization fitting their stature as the U.S. machine tool industry's top association. While the site is primarily constructed to serve members, there is access to quality info here, particularly in regards to books, reports and standards.

ASM International
This is the society for materials engineers. ASM International was formerly named the American Society for Metals, and was founded primarily by metallurgists. This site contains a wealth of association information, chapter identification, members lists, and a bookstore (traditional and electronic products are available). There is also a Testing Buyer's Guide on-line, and it's very complete.

ASTM International
ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world, a non-profit organization that looks to develop voluntary consensus standards for materials, products, systems, and services within manufacturing. Their site is simple to use and cleanly organized. You'll find some of the typical association online fare here, along with access to members (laboratories, consultants, etc.) and standards themselves (in CD, print or online forms).

Canadian Tooling and Machining Association (CTMA)
Their Annual Apprenticeship Competition highlights skills learned by the industry's apprentices and challenges them to demonstrate those skills. This event is open to all apprentices currently registered in a provincially recognized tooling trade (moldmaker, tool and diemaker, patternmaker, general machinist, etc.). The competition will include a common test piece for all trades and prizes will be awarded to the top three entries in the Junior category (apprentices with less than 4,000 hours in their respective trade) and the Senior category (apprentices with 4,000 to 8,000 hours in their respective trade). Prize levels will be subject to the level of sponsorship received.

Fabricators & Manufacturers Association
FMA is a leading educational association serving the metalworking industry. They are an excellent resource for information on existing and emerging metal forming and fabricating technologies. Their Web site includes a calendar of upcoming technical conferences, the latest association news, and the FMA Bookstore. You can also subscribe to FMA's official publication The FABRICATOR®, as well as register to attend FABTECH® International. The latest news from The Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA), FMA's affiliate association, is available, as well. Their Industry Navigator is a database of companies and organizations serving the metalworking industry.

Institute for Supply Management (ISM)
The ISM (formerly the National Association of Purchasing Management) is the organization that represents a group you may want (or have) to deal with: purchasers. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, they represent channels into the supply and manufacturing chains of corporations that you likely want to work with. Getting inside their heads—learning about what they’re thinking and what they look for—can help you with your business strategies, your marketing and sales efforts, and even your own Web site. The ISM site contains a great deal of information about these creatures, much of it in the form of surveys or studies commissioned or conducted by ISM and Forrester Research. This is a great site for due diligence, one that you should visit and explore at least once.

International Society for Measurement and Control
Run by the Instrument Society of America, ISA On-Line presents a tremendous amount of instrumentation data. The ISA learning center provides a rewarding instrumentation-related experience through links, manufacturers databases, and searches for information. The databases are thorough, but static. The site is well-maintained and updated regularly, and they've done a facelift, too.

International Titanium Association
This site looks simple enough, but it's "all titanium, all the time" in this deceptive site. Aside from the standard online association fare (i.e., seminars, calendars, membership info, etc.) you'll find loads of useful information, as well as paths to other titanium sources--if you'll bother to dig a bit. For instance, select "Ti Information" and you'll get loads of applications, technical data, manufacturing techniques, and more. Select the "Titanium Links" section, and then the "Student's Center," and you'll find a fine turorial on Titanium. The "Technical Support" Section includes a Technical Forum, and a Titanium Buyers Guide. All in all, this is as formidable a resource for titanium as you're likely to find anywhere online.

National Association of Manufacturers
NAM represents the interests of American industry and manufacturing in Washington. This website includes: news coverage of events (legislative and others) that will/can/may influence our industries; publications and reports from NAM; and a "Members Only" area. NAM's site has undergone a facelift and it works really well. Also new(er) is a direct link to some new services from NAM: NAM Virtual University (online training); an E-commerce tools section; and Manufacturing Careers. This is an impressive, forward-thinking Web site. Bookmark it now.

National Institute for Metalworking Skills
NIMS is a non profit organization formed in 1995 to support the development of a skilled workforce for the metalworking industry. NIMS support is accomplished through four activities: Developing, writing, validating, and maintaining Skill Standards; Credentialing the skills of individuals against the skill standards; Certifying training programs that meet or exceed NIMS quality requirements, and; Assisting states, schools, and companies to form Partnerships. For an article describing the skills deficiency in metalworking from many perspectives, click here.

North American Die Casting Association
Die Casting Central, this is -- and an outstanding source of information for the die casting industry. Effective suppliers databases (building lists on-the-fly), calendars, chapter news, an OEM section, and government/environmental items round out this simple but very effective site. No trinkets of technology here, but they understand the most important rule of the Web -- content.

Precision Machined Products Association
PMPA is the organization representing the precision machining industries. They do it right on this site, with on-line databases of PMPA member Job Shops and Suppliers in their Industry Buying Guide. Lists are built on-the-fly, based on your criteria. Interested in more about screw machining technology? You'll find the motherload on this site; this is, after all, the premier association for that industry.

The PMPA has recently updated their site to include a nifty "Purchasing Agent" utility for locating suppliers of Screw Machining services and parts.

Robotics Online
This site is the online home of the Robotic Industries Association, and it presents an impressive amount of quality robotics info. You'll find an impressive collection of case studies and white papers categorized by processes, as well as technical articles, an Ask The Experts forum, and a fine selection of links. This site is an excellent automation resource.

Society of Manufacturing Engineers
An outstanding organization with a big, big site; books and other technical materials are available -- most are for sale, with reduced rates for SME members. Other features included in this information-rich site: several excellent publications, membership information (and privileges), information for (and from) their substantial exposition schedule, and the Global Manufacturing Network. If you're in manufacturing, you need to visit this site.

Update: SME has retooled their Web site. Members and non-members alike will want to familiarize themselves with this drastic departure from the previous online format. More manufacturing info from one of the leaders.

Supplier Excellence Alliance (SEA)
The Supplier Excellence Alliance is a collective of aerospace, defense, and space primes/OEMs, major subcontractors, and suppliers working together to improve capabilities and ensure American competitiveness. Think of this organization as a commune for the supply chain – and if you’re reading this, you’re part of a supply chain. There are numerous resources to help your business on this site, whether you’re outsourcing work or doing it for someone else. SEA’s focus on lean alone is worth a visit. SEA appears committed to improving each link in the chain; or at least your performance in it. Strong medicine, this site.

The Aluminum Association
This association site is heavy on industry news, which likely doesn't trip your metalworking trigger. But planted around this site are nuggets of info that may help you directly, such as info about aluminum sources, prices, availability and process.

The American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA)
This non-profit organization serves the needs of bearing manufacturers. While this site offers a limited amount of technical bearing information to the outside world, it does offer access to membership, if you're into such things.

The American Society for Engineering Education
The ASEE is focused on "promoting and improving engineering and engineering technology education." Its site offers a surprisingly robust collection of career and education info for current or aspiring engineers, including links, events, and resident content in the ASEE site.

The Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA)
The Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) is a national trade association based in Washington, D.C. that represents independent manufacturers of medical devices, diagnostic products and healthcare information systems. Its Web site is pretty much what you should expect from an association, with membership allowing for more access to more information. That said, if you manufacture medical devices or parts, this association is essential.

The National Tooling & Machining Association
A wonderful organization with an outstanding Web presence. You'll need membership to NTMA (re: a password) to get the full experience, but there's some excellent stuff to be had here regardless of your status. This association that represents the interests of the precision custom manufacturing industries also gives you the online scoop on their formidable efforts in Washington on behalf of their members. Heap strong Web medicine.

The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA)
PMA is the full-service trade association representing the metalforming industry of North America -- the industry that creates precision metal products using stamping, fabricating and other related processes. Their site is a well-spring of data for those interested in metalforming; their online articles from MetalForming magazine alone are worth the effort to visit. Also worthy of mention are a fine Government and Regulatory area, a Technical Forum, and information on PMA's Educational Foundation for replenishment of the industry with "skilled, certified, and portable workers." Their Sources and Suppliers databases require registration for access, and their site utilizes frames (you'll need a browser appropriately appointed). This is a large site with plenty of useful metalworking-related stuff.

The United States Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI)
USCTI was formed in 1988 when two associations of cutting tool manufacturers joined forces. The Metal Cutting Tool Institute and the Cutting Tool Manufacturers Association combined their efforts, resulting in a single organization representing more than two-thirds of the domestic cutting tool market. USCTI is comprised of seven product divisions: Carbide Tooling, Drill and Reamer, Milling Cutter, PCD & PCBN, Tap and Die, Tool Holders and All Other Tooling.

Tooling & Manufacturing Association
TMA was founded in 1925. Since then, TMA has grown into a 1,570 member, not-for-profit organization of precision metalworking, plastic molding, and supplier companies in the Chicago area. This Web site offers the usual association-type information and services, with forums and an excellent database of member organizations and their services. TMA is also deeply involved in training and education opportunities. This Web site also allows users to submit project quotes and review current opportunities to and from TMA members.