SHOP TALK: How to Find Work
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
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I've had a lot of requests to make this video, so I hope this helps to answer your questions on how to find work and how to maintain business as a machine shop. If you have any questions, or feel like you'd like me to touch on anything else I may have missed, please leave me a note in the comments below!
Thanks for watching!
Music: Jahzzar - "The Last Ones"
I have a customer I got back after 15 years. I screwed up the first time. I fired things back up 15 years later " 8 month's ago" and decided to send them a brochure when I mailed out 100 of them. Surprisingly, they were one of only 3 places that called off those brochures. They called with some riveting assemblies needing assembled on a monthly basis- Even though I didn't advertise riveting. I'm a metal finisher, advertising buffing and polishing. But I taught myself to buck a rivit really fast lol. I have 20 of them in my garage right now. So yeah, it's always worth a shot. Plus I seem to do better mailing out brochures than cold calling. I think it's less stressful. Good luck to us all, thanks for the vid.
Bro, you got 3 responses from 100 pieces of advertising! That's 3%!! That is good results!
Thanks for posting. Your a respectful young man thats willing to share your experiences. Thank for posting!
Good vid. Spot on with all 5 steps. Getting rejected is part of the deal when trying to get new work. If you hit on %10 of your attempts you should be happy.
Best video in years on YT, straight to the point.
Good stuff. Thanks for this. Just starting up a small job shop. These are real nuggets. I appreciate it.
Everything this guy is saying is spot on.
One of the things that I do with my business is offer a particular service with in the industry that other businesses rely on, in my case it’s wheel alignments.
I basically corned the market in my immediate area where I do all the wheel alignments for 5 other shops, and I’m the only dedicated tire shop in my area as well.
I’ve only been in business since February 2017 and now I’ve got enough work to keep me going 7 days a week.
Very good video buddy. Short and right to the point. Great job.
The most important factor when starting a machine shop is Geography you need to be based in a heavily industrialised part of your area that way you always stand a chance when work is on your doorstep makes life a lot easier
GREAT Video. Realistic and useful information. Cool delivery of using your own personal sales experience, doesn't get any more real world than that.
Absolutely agree man, you must either have specialized experience or better yet, design and sell your own product. Don't try to compete with other general shops.
Great Video, I have you on linkedin but I did not know you had youtube channel. Thank you for making concise and direct points, all sounded like it was very good information and I plan to use some of it!
Nice Video, You're right on the Money.. I started my own Machine Shop many Years ago.. My biggest customer closed up and I ended up in divorce within a year cuz I worked a lot of hours, lookin for work, doing the work and deliveries, etc.. it was a tough time. But, you're right, Finding new work takes time and strategy, and then it's a delicate relationship for a year or two..
We've lost more customers over buyers moving to a new company. More than once, we've hada relationship with a buyer and everything is great. Then that buyer quits and his replacement doesn't give a crap who you are or what great work you've done for them in the past. He's got his favorites that he has brought with him from his last job and you are out.
Veey helpful insights. Appreciate your video!🤝
Interesting content. I like the perspective.
I couldn't agree more about social media every time I have had machine work done it's been something I've been waiting to do for months for some car and I see a special going on at a machine shop for quick work at half price or one off parts with no wait time. Things like that and I call the shop to have them did the work I been waiting to have done. Most car guys like me have a list in their head of what they would do if we had our own equipment, it's just doing the work cheap enough for them.
Good points. Just found your channel and subbed.
Awesome video... Just made a subscriber out of me 😎😎 keep up the good work man.
This video is great. Thanks for posting it. There's not a lot of people in industry sharing this kind of content on RUclips. Your videos are often like what Practical Machinist forums *want* to be, but can't because threads are often hijacked by inane side chatter.
8:05 I would suggest your Instagram account helps you because you're doing a lot of aesthetic/furniture/high finish work. The design/architecture scene relies heavily on visuals and social media presentations. I'm not sure a mill/turn shop that repairs, say, extrusion dies for plastic pipes will benefit a great deal from having an Instagram account; that aspect of machining's pretty saturated and there isn't a lot of novel content.
I’m a retired machinist/tool designer/fixture designer/CNC programmer of 46 years. Still have and use Bridgeport and south bend in garage with 3 phase power. The best way to make good money machining is go back in time to late 60s and 1970s. Good luck and God bless, machinist in USA need more respect.
Do you think the future of cnc machining is come to an end.... in United states
@@BB-bs7hm BB, not sure, Machining was a wonderful career for me, I raised a family and lived well. But I noticed it got harder and harder to make a good living starting around the late 1970’s, just about the time all the foreign cars started showing up. Here in the Midwest, (Akron, Ohio) almost all the machining jobs were related to the auto industry in Detroit. Or the defense industry. The tax reform laws of 1983/1986 hurt the working man. I believe we will still have many CNC positions available in the future, but your going to have to work A LOT of overtime to get by because of inflation and cost of living. Stay current with all the new equipment and software, take as many classes at night as you can and don’t be afraid to bid on new openings or change jobs often. Good luck, stay informed. Cheers fro Akron.
Thank you for this video
I’ve been running Cnc and manual lathe for 7 years now, recently moved to a small town, and picked up a little manual hardinge. Trying to start my own shop from nothing, and it’s hard this video has helped but I’m still lost on how I can find customers to cold call, to get things going. I’m hoping by winter I’ve got at least 2 customers I can be turning parts for
Very Good points you make, you really hit the nail on the head with your views of how to find work.
COLD CALLING ( the word COLD describes it well ).
Cold Calling is difficult as a machinist you can do good / cool stuff but hopeless at selling ??
But Cold Calling is hard most have no time for you even if you can part the sea.
In another scenario if you can get in the door at the right time, you can find work that can last for years you just need to be there at that right time, and you can be their hero and save the day
Specializing is difficult but a big positive in selling yourself to prospective new customers,
do something that not everyone else can do ( or wants to do ??? ).
Customers always need that one guy, that can get the job done, no matter what the job is.
Building a good customer base really takes a lot of time and patience.
Looking forward to watching the rest of your videos.
Thanks again.
Regards Peter.
Great video👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you sir!
I was in another industry and I did all of those things. What a hopeless grind it was, knocking on literally thousands of doors for a handful of customers. I eventually decided to retrain in another industry and haven't looked back.
I have a 5x12 cnc router and I know how to use it... but not sure what to focus on! Ive made a kitchen (cabinets) with one in the past and also a bass guitar that came out quite nice... just not sure which direction to go now or where to get the work!
Good stuff
I always wondered about the " General Machine Shop " catch all phrase. North America forgot what Machine Shops are about 30-ish years ago. We have to sell our capabilities and match them to the customers needs accordingly.
Greetings. Nice vid. I have spent 20+ years in the adv/marketing field dealing with all kinds of vertical industries. Medical to Education but never manufacturing. I have a job interview for a machine shop to be a Outside Sales/In house marketing guy. Your video was very helpful. What would you suggest as research for an Adv. guru introduction into this world. TIA.
God damn I want that Costco toolbox
You want more work, then show people your work and put it on RUclips, people will beg you for your services, this is the best way because these people want to do business with you more than you want them.
How do you know if you not violating customer policy? and if you even ask them about that, I think any serious and big customer would not want to deal with you, since you might set them up because most of them have ITAR certification.
take me to work))
I know this is an old video, but I just bought a small machine, and have been CNC machining and have done some conventional stuff. I just want to start off slowly, even if it's crafts and hobby items for people and sites like Xometry. I am going to do that, because I really don't want to finance anything, It'll take much longer, but I know how to program, and run the thing, and the day with automation I am hoping in 10-15 years, I can have a automation Okuma cell that I can run along with my 3-4 axis.
Would that be better to do it, than having to hire people I know I could get a business loan, and potentially get that robotic Okuma cell in a few years, but I want to get the experience as a business woman, since I got the machining and programing experience with Mastercam, fusion. I'm just scared to fail, and I think it'll give me better time and even more machining experience.
Thanks for video, I'm machinist for few years, leave in small city/town Spokane, WA. want to start own machine shop, but getting the customers would be really hard due to; too shy to be a salesman, and English is not my first language (accent). Any advise would be appreciated.
In your case, it might be advisable to either find a partner who handles the sales end of things, or hiring an outside industrial sales company to handle that end of things for you. That said, it would probably be best to find an employee who is comfortable interacting with customers and potential customers so when things like quality assurance or follow ups come along, there's nothing lost in translation! I hope it works out for you, best of luck!
Thanks Ian. I'm doing my researches by reading Practical Machinist forum, lots of guys in there saying that for beginner best practice is to knock on the other shop doors, looking for their overflow work. What's your opinion on that?
you might want to move closer to a large city. cities are diverse in race and culture. of course things get more expensive the closer you get. just food for thought. it could pay off in more ways than 1
The question is not directed at me.
But in regards to overflow work it is a good way to find work, just need to be careful they do not just use you up as cheap labour.
That would be of concern to me, the other is unrealistic time lines for completing work.
When setting up for work do not be scared to charge if you are good at what you do, very easy to fall into the trap of working to cheap and not making money.
All the best to you OMOH in getting something of your own going.
Regards Peter.
@@weldmachine Thanks Peter
Shout out for K-W
Is that a Kirkland Signature toolbox???
You want more work try government contracts it is a lot of of work but it beats cold calling and you bid on what you can handle doing
Frank Fiederlein where can i find govt work
Steps to Registering as a Federal Contractor & Certifying Your Business as Small
Obtain a D-U-N-S Number. You will need to obtain a Dun & Bradstreet D-U-N-S® Number. ...
Register your Business with the System of Award Management (SAM) ...
Find the NAICS Codes for Your Company. ...
Obtain Past Performance Evaluations.
Register for Government Contracting | The U.S. Small Business ...
www.sba.gov/contracting/getting...contractor/register-government-contracting
Can i give you my phone number and ask a few questions. Just to clarify a few things
Government Contracts are great if you are a large shop with Quality Assurance / Quality Control in place and i do not mean Bob the foreman LOL.
The only way to get a look at Government Work is a large shop or it is subbed out to you by the large shop.
Is good work if you can get it. Yes.
We opened our shop in January this year. We've been calling and emailing shops fir sub work. Not alot of luck. Any ither advice. We have 4 3xis mills and 4 lathes. Any advice would help
Cold calling.... Life on the cell phone is not cold calling friendly. Frankly, when people dial my cell number, I have to stop what I am doing, clean my hands off, race the phone out of my pocket, and I find it's a sales pitch for any reason, it's an automatic nope. With so many robotic callers now, I am nearly requiring text messages or voice mails exclaiming who you are (provided you're not in my contracts) before I'll even take your call. Just too much crap over the phone anymore, I have better things to do.
Hello, I hope you enjoy and happy with ur business, so i would like to ask you , I'm machinist I able to working in both (milling , lathe ) , and I'm 25 year, I'm ask if there's a chance to work with you
From all the replies, It appears that many have started their business without a sound business plan.
Ken Thurston can you teach me my email is naimlezz120@gmail.com I will be you first subscriber.
What’s the industry average shop rate per hour?
Really location and industry dependant - but a range of $75 - $200 isn’t unheard of, depending on how crazy a process is / how difficult the job is. I usually bill around $75 for mill work and more for something like wire EDM.
The only customer a shop should lose is the prick that didn't pay. You don't need them. Otherwise if you lost a customer it's 100% your fault whether it's your fault or not.
Hi, I am an entrepreneur and I am in need of a machine for my micro factory. How do I get in touch with you.
Letsmachine@gmail.com - I don’t sell machines, though.
Sir I have trub and center less greanding machine any job for work me please 🙏
(1) Thumbs down that might be my friend with the 5 Axis doing ????????????
Okay, but what if I *AM* the guy with a machine in his garage?
It’s a bit of a catch-22 - I don’t know if I’d have invested in the machine if I planned to make money off it without the trade contacts to do so already in place, but if I was in that position I would be extremely pro-active with going out and trying to forge those contacts by demonstrating work piece examples and having a going rate that justifies companies choosing you over an established vendor. Unfortunately, this usually means committing to difficult timelines at margins that may not be great in order to get your foot in the door. It’s tough to compete with places with larger outputs that can afford to have a lower rate job running through on one machine while other machines make the coin for the same customers other jobs - but it is possible, and happens all the time! Cold calling until the relationships are made is the best I can advise!
Where are you located? I’m in k-w
Share workloads?
Newmarket, ON
Let's Machine I have customers all over Ontario if your ok with it I’ll send you test parts and see if we can share work:)?
sure!
Let's Machine what are your tolerance levels and capabilities?
Ex. 0.0001” and/or cnc vs edm vs wire edm etc
Let’s Not..!!!