Manufacturers solve big challenges by breaking them into smaller, achievable steps. That's also the best way to approach your first visit to IMTS 2026 – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, Sept. 14-19, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Start by identifying one to three priorities for your business. Maybe you're looking to reduce setup times, improve quality, automate repetitive tasks, achieve AS9100 or CMMC 2.0 compliance, or increase throughput. Once you know what you're looking for, a show featuring 1,800 plus exhibitors across 1.2 million square feet becomes much more manageable and far more valuable. While these tips are written with first-time attendees in mind, they can help anyone make the most of their IMTS experience. Register Now1. Identify your priorities. Meet with your team before the show and decide on one to three challenges you want to solve. Consider your biggest bottlenecks, growth opportunities, customer requirements, or strategic goals for the next one, three, and five years. 2. Define success. Establish a baseline for the areas you want to improve. Metrics such as revenue per team member or machine, gross margin, OEE, on-time delivery, first-pass yield, scrap, and work-in-progress can help you evaluate solutions and measure results after the show. 3. Register and plan your trip. Register at IMTS.com/Register and note early bird deals and group discounts. Take advantage of the travel resources at imts.com/show/travel/ to book hotels, transportation, and other logistics early. 4. Build your game plan. Use the IMTS exhibitor directory to identify companies and technologies that align with your priorities. Compare multiple solutions, then use the IMTS Show Planner to bookmark exhibitors, schedule appointments, and organize your days. 5. Let the show planner do the work. Use the show planner's recommendations and appointment calendar to structure half to two-thirds of your day. A flexible schedule gives you a solid plan while leaving room for unexpected discoveries. 6. Plan your route. Use the Show Planner's "Plan the Smartest Route" feature to build the most efficient path through the show floor based on your selected exhibitors, conference sessions, and attractions. If your schedule changes, your route automatically updates, helping you make the most of your time at IMTS. 7. Divide and conquer. If you're attending with colleagues, assign each person a specific technology or objective. Meet over lunch or dinner to compare notes and decide which promising solutions warrant deeper review from engineering, operations, purchasing, service, or leadership. 8. Leave room for discovery. If you came to solve three problems, chances are you'll leave with ideas for a fourth. IMTS has earned its reputation as the "Disney World for machinists" because you'll encounter technologies, applications, and ideas you didn't know you needed. Some of the show's best discoveries happen between appointments. 9. Capture what you learn. Use a digital contact manager, an AI note-taking assistant, or your phone to document conversations and key takeaways. Take photos with the people you meet – not only to help you remember them, but also to strengthen those new relationships after the show. 10. Follow through. The real value of IMTS begins after you return home. Measure your results, reconnect with exhibitors, and implement ideas to improve your business. Then let us know about your success – you may even be featured in an IMTS case study. Bonus Tip: Leave room in your schedule to make new connections. Technology may bring you to IMTS, but the people you meet often provide the greatest long-term value. As Mack Loughlin, general manager at Jacobs Tool & Manufacturing in Hanover, Pennsylvania, puts it, "Sometimes I go to IMTS for hardware, sometimes I go for software. At IMTS 2026, I'm going for 'peopleware.'" His advice: look beyond the equipment and take time to learn how other manufacturers are solving challenges, building their businesses, and preparing for the future. And yes – wear comfortable shoes. Register now for IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Further ReadingIMTS 2026 Spotlights the Technologies Powering Manufacturing’s Next LeapAutomating the Toolroom for Better Flow and Bigger Gains6 Manufacturers Share Their Best IMTS Discoveries7 Manufacturers Share How IMTS Boosted Their Bottom Line
10 tips for making the most of the Western Hemisphere’s greatest manufacturing technology show.
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