The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) has been a pivotal educational force in metal forming and fabricating technologies. Along with the Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA) and its publications constituent, The Croydon Group, the FMA has spent the last 30 years providing its 3,000 members with practical technical information.

Concerning E-commerce endeavors, the FMA has confidently stepped to the plate. In June 2000, the FMA introduced its own on-line bookstore. Through the web, members and non-members can purchase products from three categories: books, software, videos and surveys. On-line purchases have exceeded $4,000, and the bookstore is already paying for itself. Through newsletters, advertising and direct marketing, the FMA successfully promoted its new E-commerce liaison, and to Laurie Harshbarger, FMA Web Development Manager, the bookstore is “more popular than we thought it would be.”

Catering to members’ wide variance of Internet know-how was the most challenging task for web developers. “[We] need to be careful to make things easy for members, ” said Harshbarger. “Some have Palm Pilots and some are like ‘Internet what?’” Differing web browsers also contribute to user problems.

These problems pale in comparison to the high success the FMA has had with its on-line bookstore. Jill Klug, Customer Service Manager of the bookstore, has yet to receive any negative responses to the FMA’s first E-commerce undertaking. She said the users have been very appreciative of the service, and that her department receives 10 to 15 e-mail requests daily. In her observance, the web has made “it a lot easier to communicate to everyone.”

Though they do have plans in the making for future E-Commerce activities, FMA staff chose to keep quiet about them in lieu of the great competition in the industry. Gary Schott, Director of Education and Membership, said it is known that they need to get some vehicles in place. Requests for quotes (RFQs) will be implemented in about six months, which will take the FMA and its members to another highly beneficial technical level. Yet, with the bookstore being its initial venture into the world of E-commerce, the FMA has succeeded beyond its own measure, and its members have been vastly receptive to change.

For FMA membership information, go to: http://www.fmametalfab.org