Starting up or growing a 5 axis cnc machine shop can be extremely challenging nowadays and involves making numerous important decisions regarding financing, location, choosing the right cnc machines and putting all things together. Especially if you enter a crowded market with large, well-established competitors already in place. Small CNC machine shops face hurdles similar to those of other small businesses, and, like their non-industrial counterparts, have the same potential for securing contracts and growing within the cnc machining industry despite problems and all obstacles.
The most important advises for cnc machinists in my opinion:
Target your segment and a niche of cnc marketplace: It is a good practice to focus on clients that will purchase your products at the best volume rate. Becoming an expert in machining medical components and devices or working with exotic materials such as kovar, hastelloy, molybdenum, titanium, plastics are examples of niches in cnc manufacturing that can help you easily target some of the most valuable customers and focus on them. Pay attention to what you do best and always keep improving. It simplifies your marketing efforts. This again makes decisions easier and keeps you on-task and more efficient. By keeping it simple you can focus all your efforts into being the best at what you do in cnc machining. I believe that it is always better to be the very best at one thing, rather than mediocre at a dozen.
Have a clear target! If your cnc shop wants to specialize in manufacturing automotive parts with a diameter under five inches, try to establish relationships with companies that purchase this product at a rate favorable to your production cycle and turnover. Having a clear target will help you easily decide on all other aspects of your business – machines, man-power, supporting technology, marketing, etc. If your target industries require it, remember about obtaining all the needed certifications, so you can meet the standards of even the most exigent of customers. It would be difficult to obtain ISO 9001 or 2008 at the beginning but if you seriously think about growing your cnc machining business this will be necessary step in the future
Remember about social media!
Most all fashioned cnc machine shops completely ignore Facebook or Twitter. They think that having sophisticated 5 axis cnc machines, experience and years of practice is everything. Well it was that way before but now you can turn social media into your powerful ally and use it. This is your advantage to set up profiles, engage in internet activity posting pictures comments and movies on youtube. Emerging technologies such as the internet and social networking can help leverage your cnc shop visibility in both search engines and online helping reach people near and far. Your website and social media profiles can become your virtual salesmen helping you to bring new customers and you pay nothing for it!
Have good 5 axis cnc equipment.
I believe you can still start small and make it work with basics a cnc machine. The key is to clearly define your business, have a single purpose, and not try to be everything to everyone. But if you want to find your niche in 5 axis precision machining you have to focuse on it and think outside the box. If you made some money, got your clients, do not hesitate to abandon your old machines and switch to more advanced 5 axis machining. You can study what more experienced cnc machinists do, specially nowadays when many of cnc shops post their videos and describes in detail their jobs. Do not hesitate to follow the best in 5 axis cnc machining industry!
This principle is probably universal: For a cnc job shop to thrive, it needs to be more than a job shop to at least a portion of its customers.
