Discover how top manufacturers achieve industry leading quality rates and on-time delivery through data-driven benchmarking.
“How does my business compare to other, similar businesses?” is the central question we set out to ask over 10 years ago with our first Top Shops benchmarking survey. We’re still answering that question.
Measure your performance, find growth opportunities, and get a FREE custom report—100% anonymous.
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"Being a Top Shop carries a lot of weight with the supply chain."
– Dave Tilstone, President, NTMA
Benchmarking your manufacturing business is a way to see how different aspects of your operation – from quoting and profitability to training and HR practices – compare with other businesses. The Tops Shops Benchmarking Survey and Report is designed to show how you stack up both overall, and specifically relative to the businesses we classify as being “Top Shops.” Participating in the Top Shops Benchmarking Survey earns your company a customized report plotting where your shop falls on individual measures. You receive a Performance Summary that lists areas of relative strengths, areas your business is on track, and opportunities for improvement. Consistent benchmarking can demonstrate your shop’s improvement over time, and provide data that can be used in your sales and marketing strategy or to aid your management team in yearly goal setting. Top Shops benchmarking has proven invaluable to companies committed to improvement and growth.
The Top Shops survey is emailed to large numbers of Gardner Business Media subscribers (readers of brands like Modern Machine Shop, CompositesWorld, Plastics Technology and Products Finishing) and posted to various Gardner digital media websites to gather broad survey participation.
Field dates for Top Shops surveys vary across our media brands. All are conducted on an annual basis with updated surveys available in January. Top Shops surveys for Modern Machine Shop and Product Finishing are available throughout the year, but must be completed by April 30 to be considered for a magazine profile. Surveys for Plastics Technology and CompositesWorld are only available until March 31.
A high level, one-page executive summary is broadly available and can be accessed here. In addition, survey participants receive a free custom report in return for their effort. Participants can also purchase additional custom reports, which can be accessed here.
While the most comprehensive and actionable Top Shops data are provided to participating companies via custom reports, there is also the option to purchase a Benchmarking Standards Report. The Benchmarking Standards Report is a custom report populated by a ‘statistically typical’ shop which is compared to the same benchmarks as a participating shop. “Your shop” in the report is equivalent to a shop providing the median answer for every question in the survey. The useful perspective provided by the BSR is not available elsewhere and provides a baseline for determining what is important to a successful shop. The Benchmarking Standards Report is available for purchase here.
Mexican Media Brands