FMA’s charitable foundation, Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs®, provides grants to community and technical colleges to produce manufacturing summer camps for youth ages 12-16 to introduce them to manufacturing career options. The foundation provides scholarships for qualified students in post-secondary educational programs leading to careers in manufacturing as well.

FMA is also a co-founder of Manufacturing Day, a national movement dedicated to addressing common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, what modern manufacturing is. Although this celebration officially occurs the first Friday in October, any day can be MFG Day.

Who Belongs to FMA?

FMA serves members involved in the following processes: bending, blanking, cutting, drawing, extruding, fastening, finishing, leveling, piercing, punching, roll forming, shearing, slitting, spinning, straightening, stamping, swaging, and welding. FMA also has two technology affiliates, the Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA) which focuses on the unique needs of members involved in production and fabrication of welded and seamless pipe and tube and the Association of Steel Distributors (ASD) which serves professionals in the steel distribution industry. Membership spans the United States, Canada and Mexico, and reaches into more than 30 other countries.

Headquartered in a newly constructed office building in Elgin, Ill., FMA has a staff of more than 70 employees serving its members and the industry. FMA members are served at the volunteer level by the FMA Board of Directors, advisory boards, and technology councils.