Are you taking advantage of all the services your association offers?

Government & Media Relations
Marshalling resources to create a favorable environment in which your business can grow and prosper

Community & Networking
Networking members for business and professional growth and enrichment

Marketing & Sales Support
Helping members expand their penetration of existing markets and enter new markets

Information & Advice
News and views for decision-makers

Education & Training
Upgrading the productivity of your most valuable resource

Workforce Benefits & Administrative Services
Helping recruit, retain, compensate, and manage your most important resource - your people

Group Purchased & Endorsed Services
Leveraging the collective purchasing power of the TMA membership

Marshalling resources to create a favorable environment in which your business can grow and prosper

• Government & Public Affairs Representation: TMA represents members at the state and federal levels on issues including sales tax, international trade, employment costs, etc. TMA belongs to the China Currency Coalition, the Council of Manufacturing Associations of NAM, the Domestic Manufacturing Group, the Manufacturers for Fair Trade, the Metalworking Manufacturing Coalition, and the Sound Dollar Coalition, and the United States Business & Industry Council.
• Government & Media Action Center: This Web-based letter-writing program provides an easy and convenient way to track issues and send letters to Washington and Springfield.
• TMA Political Action Committee (PAC): Member contributions support manufacturing-friendly State of Illinois candidates.
• Legislative Report: Edited by TMA Government Relations Advisor & Springfield Lobbyist, Jay Shattuck, this report on legislative activity not only informs but also calls you to act on your concerns about the economic viability of your business and manufacturing in Illinois.
• Breakfasts for Business: Learn about industry issues, hear the positions of guest legislators, and voice your concerns.
• Career Promotion: TMA promotes metalworking and manufacturing careers and supports related education, which helps you recruit better-qualified employees.
• TMA Education Foundation: Supports education, training and industry image building activities that help you hire qualified people.

Networking members for business and professional growth and enrichment

• Committee Service: All members benefit from over 2,500 volunteer hours per year of time and talent. Added benefit to participating members is the networking opportunity for business relationships and friendships.
• Business Events & Social Programs: Meet your peers at TMA events. Informal networking, discounted tickets to theater, dinner, travel, and more - helps you unwind plus provides valuable sources of ideas and information.
• Web-based & Face-to-Face Discussion Groups: Enhances member-to-member communications.

Helping members expand their penetration of existing markets and enter new markets

• Industry Marketing: TMA positions Chicago as the "Precision Metalworking Center of the World" and encourages manufacturers to "Buy Chicago" through media and trade show representation.
• TMA Online Buyers Guide & Printed Purchasing Guide: All members receive a free listing promoting their capabilities.
• Commercial & Marketing Services: Provides members with direction, lead generation, and assistance in writing commercial sales and marketing plans.
• Marketing Network: Network members receive web links, enhanced Online Buyers Guide search positioning, access to TMA Commercial & Marketing Services and Harris Selectory prospecting database, discounts on direct mail program and select marketing seminars.
• Supplier Network: Network members receive web links, enhanced Online Buyers Guide search positioning, access to TMA Commercial & Marketing Services and Harris Selectory prospecting database, discounts on direct mail program and select marketing seminars, plus event sponsorship opportunities.
• First Index Lead Generation Service: Members receive discounted access to qualified buyers.
• Collaboration Program: TMA provides assistance in assembling members interested in sharing resources, market intelligence, capacity, personnel, CAD systems, and even customers.
• Direct Mail Program: Reach more potential customers by target marketing your fellow members and related industry decision makers in the greater Chicago-land area.
• TMA News Bulletin "For Sale" and "Wanted to Buy" ads: Helps you sell used equipment or find equipment that you need.
• TMA ‘Deminar’ Service: Host your demonstration, seminar, or presentation in TMA’s Conference Room or Computer Lab. TMA can assist you with hospitality and promotion.

News and views for decision-makers

• TMA News Bulletin: News about the industry, the membership, and TMA events; you’ll find information that can help make your company more successful. Includes "For Sale" and "Wanted to Buy" ads so you can sell used equipment or find equipment that you need. The Bulletin is available via e-mail or paper.
• www.tmanet.com: TMA’s website offers a wealth of information, along with industry and professional links. Log on!
• Surveys: Stay informed on wages, benefits, and business trends, benchmarking, executive compensation, holiday time off, safety, legislative, and training.
• Advisory Services: Timely advice on personnel practices, sales tax, business insurance, employee benefits, equal employment opportunity, wage/hour regulations, and OSHA, and more ...
• The Business Owner: Save over 55% on this valuable and respected ‘how-to’ information source.

Upgrading the productivity of your most valuable resource

• Needs Assessment & Program Development Consultation: Full service review of your workforce to determine training action plan.
• Customized Training: In-plant training saves travel time, is convenient, and is tailored to your own environment.
• Seminars and Courses: Upgrade your workforce in areas ranging from technical applications to management and administration; many courses can be provided at your facility.
• Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Business Excellence Consortium (BEC): TMA members receive all of the benefits of training with BEC but avoid BEC’s annual $3,000 spending guarantee. Special pricing for members who host on-site training. Up to 50% grant funding reimbursement from TMA.
• Apprentice Training Related Theory Instruction: Apprentice tool & die makers, mold makers, and precision machinists receive industry developed classroom instruction to supplement their on the job training. TMA maintains curriculum, administration, and program quality. All instructors have industry experience.
• School of Design: CAD-based , two year, four semester courses in Die Design and Mold Design
• Computer Lab: 18-station, state-of-the-art facility for teaching CAD, CAM, design, and programming.
• Hands-on Pressroom Training: Available at your site or at TMA’s Pressroom Training Facility in Arlington Heights.
• Sales Training & Consulting: Provides selling and relationship building skills.
• Workplace Training Grants: Saves member companies up to 50% on in-plant as well as off site training.
• National Institute for Metalworking Skills: TMA actively supports benchmarking standards and tools to help members implement a skilled workforce.
• Tooling University: Members receive discounts on Web-based training on a wide variety of manufacturing topics that integrate with the NIMS standards. Log onto www.tmanet.com and then click the ToolingU link.
• Dale Carnegie Self-Development Program: Members receive a discount while they improve confidence and build communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.

Helping recruit, retain, compensate, and manage your most important resource - your people

• Human Resources Consulting: Karla Dobbeck of Human Resource Techniques answers your phone or e-mail questions at no charge. Additional consulting is available at a discounted members only rate. A comprehensive Labor Law Audit is also available.
• TMA Benefit Services, Inc.: As a full service insurance agency and wholly owned subsidiary of TMA, TMA-BSI provides a full range of products and services from leading insurance carriers. TMA-BSI profits support the membership and the industry.
• TMT Group Insurance Trust: Exclusively for TMA Members – see your TMA-BSI agent for details. A health insurance trust underwritten by Trustmark Insurance. Governed by members, collective buying power, partial pooling of claims, and a dedicated claims reserve. Contact a TMA Benefit Services, Inc. representative at (847) 993-2110 for more information.
• Fort Dearborn Life/Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL Voluntary Dental: Unique program designed exclusively for employees of TMA member companies.
• Flexible Benefit Service Corporation: Innovative alternatives to financing health insurance, specializing in the administration of HSA, HRA, and Section 125 plans. Special pricing is available to TMA members.
• TMA Retirement Trust 401(k) Program: Merrill Lynch offers a group purchased, yet flexible retirement program at a very competitive price. The Trust provides reduced fiduciary liability. Funds are at Net Asset Value (NAV) with no front end nor back end sales loads nor annuity wrapper fees, resulting in lower expense ratios because of TMA’s group purchasing power.
• Workers' Compensation - Property/Casualty Program: Sentry Insurance has been endorsed by TMA since 1970. With most of its customers involved in the metalworking arena, Sentry provides excellent loss control services. TMA offers free lending of tapes (with videoplayer) on forklift, hand tool, and machine safety; lockout/tag-out, hazard communication, and back injury prevention.
• Unemployment Insurance Administration: Avoid the $500 minimum fee imposed by Cambridge Integrated Services Group on non-members. Members also enjoy discounted service fees with no add on charges for representation at hearings. This service wins over 90% of protestable claims.
• Occupational Hearing Conservation Services through Audiometric Associates: Full service programs, including noise surveys, mobile hearing testing, employee training, and computerized data management. Testing services are provided to TMA members at costs below non-member rates.
• Monarch Technical Services: Full service contract-to-permanent staffing including free drug screening and topical seminars. Monarch donates $100 to TMA’s Education Foundation each time a Monarch employee completes a 6-month contracted period and is converted as a company-direct employee.
• Personnel Available Service: Resumes for skilled and entry-level technical, and non-technical candidates, as well as managers and supervisors, all available at no charge.

• TMA Job Board:  Member-only access to the only internet job portal specifically for manufacturing. Post a job, post a resume or search posted resumes - free for the first six months of its operation.

Leveraging the collective purchasing power of the TMA membership

• Yellow Transportation: Save up to 62% on standard inbound/outbound LTL shipments.
• DHL Express: Save up to 25% on shipments.
• Coface North America: Reduced-cost access to credit reports and credit scoring; plus credit insurance and accounts receivable financing and management.
• Work Safe: OSHA compliance; facility audits, development and writing of safety program manuals, on-site documented employee training.
• Lower Electric Utility Auditing: Utility auditing for electric, gas, telephone, and property tax reduction done on a contingency basis. Plus, competitively priced contracts from many utility suppliers.
• Illinois Manufacturers' Directory: Members receive discounts on both the printed directory and CD-ROM versions.
• Avis Rent-A-Car: Discounted rentals plus special weekly and weekend rates.
• TMA Bookstore: TMA partners with Amazon.com to offer books at Amazon’s discounted prices with a portion of their profits being returned to TMA. Log onto www.tmanet.com to save money and support your association.
• Heart Check America: You and your employees (and spouses) receive $50 discounts on heart scans.