2026 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey
Open Now – April 10, 2026
Take the Survey
How does your machine shop really compare?
The Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, conducted annually by Modern Machine Shop, gives CNC machining and metalworking operations a clear, data-driven view of how they stack up against peers — and against the top 20% of performers in the industry.
Participation is free, confidential, and open to qualifying U.S. and international machine shops.
Why Participate in the Top Shops Survey?
When you complete the survey, you receive a personalized benchmarking report showing how your shop compares across key performance areas, including:
- Profit margin
- Revenue per employee
- Revenue per machine
- Capital investment levels
- Automation and technology adoption
- Workforce and training practices
This is real benchmarking data drawn from active production shops — not estimates, not vendor surveys, and not marketing claims.
What Makes Top Shops Different?
Top Shops is about identifying what the best-performing machine shops actually do differently — and making that insight available to the entire industry.
Each year:
- Hundreds of shops complete the survey
- The top 20% of respondents are designated as Top Shops
- Four shops are selected as annual Top Shops Honorees for excellence in:
- Machining Technology
- Shopfloor Practices
- HR & Workforce
- Business Strategies
Who Should Take the Survey?
The Top Shops survey is designed for:
- CNC machining job shops
- Contract manufacturers
- Precision metalworking operations
- Small and mid-sized manufacturers
If your shop produces discrete parts using CNC mills, lathes, Swiss machines, multitasking equipment, or related technologies, the survey is likely a fit.
How the Survey Works
- Survey window: February 1 – April 10, 2026
- Time required: The core survey can be completed in about 30–45 minutes. Shops that choose to go deeper — and many do — often spend more time. The survey can be saved and returned to at any point.
- Cost: Free
- Confidentiality: Individual responses are never shared
All published results are aggregated and anonymized.
Why Modern Machine Shop Runs Top Shops
Modern Machine Shop has covered the machining and metalworking industry since 1928. The Top Shops program exists to bring clarity to an industry where margins are tight, complexity is high, and small improvements can have outsized impact.
The data helps shops:
- Identify gaps and opportunities
- Validate investment decisions
- Learn from proven peers
- Plan more confidently for the future
Ready to Participate?
The 2026 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey opens February 1, 2026, and closes April 10, 2026.
