Articles written by Kathleen McLaughlin

Kathleen McLaughlin

Contributing Writer

Results: 9

	Appliance demand flat 2007 U.S. appliance shipments are forecast to grow only 1 percent because of a sluggish housing market. Shifts in channel preferences; successful market penetration by offshore brands; a strong demand for high-priced, innovative white goods; and the Maytag/Whirlpool merger are changing... Publish date: March 13, 2007
	Detroit's reality check As the Big Three try to return to profitability, most of their suppliers, many with a negative cash flow, are starting to crack under the pressure. Declining OEM unit volume and mix issues, pricing pressures, and high sustained raw material costs continue to constrain cash flows and limit... Publish date: February 13, 2007
	Viking's range of choices The stainless steel stampings Viking Range produces often require complex draws and piercing, as well as sharp corners and creases—with flawless exterior finishes. Viking has moved from outsourcing its stampings to using press brakes to investing in hydraulic presses of increasing capacity... Publish date: December 12, 2006
	The big squeeze Three companies dominating the market is a distant memory as Japanese and European automakers' market shares steadily increase. The Big Three has evolved into the New 6 that includes Toyota, Honda, Nissan, GM, Ford, and DaimlerChrysler. Suppliers tied to the Big Three will have to make a... Publish date: February 7, 2006
	Bulletproof processes While some stampers are filing for bankruptcy, Alpha's lean manufacturing initiatives have propelled the Detroit-based stamper to a $50 million-dollar company and growing Publish date: December 13, 2005
	Winning with Lean Publish date: September 14, 2004
	Dangerous curves Publish date: June 8, 2004
	Found art Watching the sparks fly as his dad welded a temperamental posthole digger mesmerized Derek Arnold. "I found the immediacy of something so permanent absolutely fascinating," he said. "I knew I wanted to weld."A hands-on welding education on the family farm drove Arnold to take his skills and... Publish date: June 12, 2003
	Evolution of the beast This article outlines how mechanical presses are changing to meet a new marketplace. Stampers are adding extra stations to create a more complete part and stamping harder alloys. Servo-driven mechanical presses will make traditional flywheel presses obsolete because they use less energy and can... Publish date: June 27, 2002