Technology & Manufacturing Association

What Technology & Manufacturing Association does

The Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1925 and headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. It exclusively serves small and mid-size manufacturers in Illinois, delivering a portfolio of services organized into five pillars: Community (meetings & events, member directory, TMA Collaborate online community, Business Connect referral platform), Information (knowledge center, data & reports, TMA News Bulletin, industry news, "Digital Intelligence"), Training (on-site training, Related Theory Apprentice Training, Manufacturing Leadership Program, workforce development, career pathways, Precision Machining Competition, Education Foundation), Resources (group insurance, shipping, industrial supplies via Grainger, HR/payroll/UI/work comp services, 401k Retirement Trust, sales & marketing support, Jobs Board at tma-talent.com), and Advocacy (government relations, lobbying, Political Action Committee, legislative scorecards, public/media relations, Manufacturing Task Force, Mayors for Manufacturing).

TMA operates a subscription/recurring revenue model funded primarily by membership dues from Illinois manufacturers. Distribution is direct-to-member via the website, events, and member referrals, with member companies ranging from precision machining and metalworking shops to adjacent services such as construction and HCM. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and a Government Relations Committee leadership team drawn from member-company executives, with Dennis LaComb as Executive Vice President and Isaac Flex as Director of Development. There is no disclosed technology platform or proprietary software product; the underlying "technology" is the association's digital presence, member databases, online community tools, and the operational infrastructure required to deliver training, insurance brokerage, and government affairs services at scale.

Name

Technology & Manufacturing Association

Legal name

Technology and Manufacturing Association

Website

https://tmaillinois.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Technology & Manufacturing Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1925 that exclusively serves small and mid-size manufacturers in Illinois through community, training, resource, and advocacy services funded by membership dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manufacturing Trade Association Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Manufacturing (EDABALAP)

akta.pro secondary industries

Production & Manufacturing Operations (TPM, OEE, SMED) (EDABAKAK), Human Resources & Talent (EDAAAPAM), Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Manufacturing advocacy
• Workforce development training
• Industry networking
• Legislative lobbying

Headquarters

HQ city

Schaumburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: TMA operates as a membership-based trade association funded by membership dues from small and mid-size manufacturing companies. The association provides industry-specific benefits and services in exchange for membership fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Technology & Manufacturing Association is a 501(c)(6) trade association founded in 1925 that serves small and mid-size manufacturers in Illinois. It provides membership-based services including industry advocacy and lobbying, workforce development training, networking events, and shared-cost group services such as insurance, HR/payroll, and a 401k retirement trust. The association acts as a collective voice for Illinois manufacturers through its Government Relations Committee, Political Action Committee, and Manufacturing Task Force.

Product overview

Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) is a trade association for small and mid-size manufacturers in Illinois, founded in 1925. TMA provides a diverse portfolio of industry-specific benefits and services organized into four main categories: Community (meetings, events, member directory, online collaboration platforms), Information (knowledge center, data & reports, news bulletins, industry news), Training (apprentice programs, leadership development, workforce development, precision machining competition), Resources (insurance, HR services, 401k, industrial supplies), and Advocacy (government relations, PAC, legislative scorecards, media relations). The association also operates a Marketing Partnership Program for advertising and a 2026 Partners sponsorship program. TMA serves as a collective voice for manufacturers, offering political advocacy through its PAC and engaging in legislative efforts to support the manufacturing sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Related Theory Apprentice Training Apprenticeship program combining theoretical instruction with practical manufacturing skills, available to TMA member companies for workforce development.
• Manufacturing Leadership Program (MLP) Leadership development program for manufacturing professionals, offered to TMA members to build supervisory and management capacity.
• On-Site Training In-person training programs delivered at member manufacturing facilities, covering course offerings listed on the TMA class calendar.
• Insurance Services Group insurance programs offered to TMA member companies at shared cost, including coverage products relevant to manufacturing operations.
• HR, Payroll, UI Claims, and Workers Compensation Services Human resources services for TMA members covering payroll administration, unemployment insurance claims processing, and workers compensation administration.
• 401k Retirement Trust Group 401k retirement savings program available to employees of TMA member companies, providing shared-cost retirement benefits.
• Government Relations and Lobbying Lobbying and government affairs representation for the Illinois manufacturing industry, conducted through the TMA Government Relations Committee and Manufacturing Task Force.
• Political Action Committee (PAC) Collective political investment program that supports pro-manufacturing candidates in Illinois, funded through contributions associated with TMA membership.
• Legislative Scorecards and Policy Reports Annual reports and policy publications that grade Illinois legislators on manufacturing-friendly voting records, available to TMA members.
• Industrial Supplies (via Grainger partnership) Discounted access to industrial supplies for TMA member companies through a partnership with Grainger.
• Jobs Board (tma-talent.com) Online employment board (tma-talent.com) connecting Illinois manufacturers with potential employees, available to member companies.
• Media Kit and Marketing Partnership Program Advertising and sponsorship opportunities in TMA's print and digital distribution channels, reaching tens of thousands of viewers monthly.
• 2026 Partners Program Annual sponsorship program that links TMA members with industry partners; partners are recognized on the website and in marketing materials.

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 2026 TMA PartnerscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026TMA acknowledges corporate partners who support the association's mission. Partners are recognized on the website and in marketing materials as part of the annual partnership program.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Manufacturers (NAM): The largest U.S. manufacturing trade association, providing federal advocacy, events, and research. Overlaps with TMA in serving manufacturing members but operates nationally and at significantly greater scale.
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME): Professional society advancing manufacturing through education, certifications, and events. Comparable in serving manufacturing professionals but oriented to individuals and broader industry rather than small/mid company members.

Direct peers

• Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA): Direct state-level peer representing Illinois manufacturers through advocacy, training, and member services. Closest comparable organization given overlapping Illinois geography and similar member base.
• Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA): Trade association serving metal-forming and fabricating manufacturers with education, networking, and advocacy — comparable member services and industry focus to TMA.
• National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA): Represents precision custom-manufacturing companies with member services including training, insurance, and government relations — closely paralleling TMA's small/mid manufacturer focus.
• Precision Metalforming Association (PMA): Trade association for the metalforming industry offering education, networking, benchmarking, and advocacy — a direct peer in serving small/mid-size manufacturers with bundled member services.
• Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT): Trade association representing U.S. builders of manufacturing technology, providing industry data, advocacy, and events including IMTS. Comparable member-service model oriented to a manufacturing sub-vertical.

Regional players

• Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC): Wisconsin's statewide chamber and manufacturers' association combining advocacy, member benefits, and training. Closely comparable in scope and structure to TMA but operates in a neighboring state.
• Ohio Manufacturers' Association (OMA): State-level association representing Ohio manufacturers with policy advocacy and member services — a parallel regional peer with a comparable member profile and value proposition.

Emerging players

• American Welding Society (AWS): Membership organization providing welding-specific training, certification, and standards. Comparable in delivering industry-specific technical training and credentialing to manufacturing professionals, similar to TMA's apprenticeship and MLP offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tmamidwest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Technology & Manufacturing Association