MTI Benchmarking Committee to Strengthens Weekly Operational Check-In Questions

With business operations changing so fast in an AI era, it is critical for top management at any heat treating company to know how the market is shifting in real-time.  MTI’s weekly operational check-in questions have played an important role in giving Members real-time data on issues including production, HR, quality, energy, insurance, and general operations to name a few. 

Starting in February, the MTI Benchmarking Committee will meet once a month with one focus: ensuring the questions that Members answer each week deliver meaningful, actionable insights, that help heat treaters navigate market volatility, operational challenges, and future planning with greater confidence.

MTI CEO Tom Morrison stated recently, “MTI’s weekly operational check-in questions have great participation. With that participation we want to make sure the data remains relevant to helping Members keep up with change happening around them.”

Improving the Signal, Not Adding Noise

The committee will meet to evaluate how well current questions capture real-time operational conditions across the industry. The goal is not to increase the number of questions, but to sharpen them…making sure each data point collected reflects what truly matters inside a heat treating operation, such as workflow, capacity utilization, labor constraints, capital spending signals, and operational efficiencies.

By refining the wording and focus of these weekly questions, the committee aims to improve the quality of benchmarking data, allowing MTI to provide clearer trend analysis and more accurate industry signals back to Members.

Why Weekly Participation Matters

The power of MTI’s benchmarking program depends entirely on Member participation. When Members consistently answer the weekly operational check-in questions:

• You see the previous week’s results.
• Trends emerge earlier: Shifts in demand, slowdowns, or accelerations are visible sooner, not months later.
• Members gain context: Companies can compare their own performance against industry trends instead of relying on gut feel or anecdotal feedback.
• Better decisions are made: Owners and leaders can validate hiring plans, capital investments, pricing strategies, and capacity decisions using real data.
• The industry speaks with one voice: Aggregated data strengthens MTI’s ability to communicate industry conditions to partners, suppliers, and stakeholders.

A Tool for Volatile Times

Weekly operational benchmarking is especially valuable during periods of uncertainty. While quarterly and annual reports provide important macro-level insight, weekly data captures the day-to-day reality heat treaters are experiencing right now. That immediacy allows MTI Members to adjust faster and lead with facts rather than assumptions.

Built by Members, for Members

The Benchmarking Committee’s work reinforces MTI’s commitment to programs that are member-driven and practical. The refinements being made are based on feedback from heat treaters who actively use benchmarking data to guide decisions…not academic exercises or generic manufacturing surveys.

As improvements are implemented, Members are encouraged to continue participating consistently. Each response strengthens the dataset, improves accuracy, and increases the value returned to every company involved.

The Bottom Line

MTI’s weekly operational check-in survey is one of the most powerful tools Members have to stay aligned with industry reality. The Benchmarking Committee’s work ensures the questions remain relevant, focused, and valuable…so members can lead their businesses with clarity in both strong and challenging markets.

If you are the main contact for your company’s membership, you should be receiving the weekly question and results. If you have any questions on the weekly operational check-in, contact Kristen Speer at kristen@heattreat.net.