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More from Tim Heston
- From The Fabricator
Manufacturing’s image: The engaging logic of the entire process
- By Tim Heston
- Feb 15, 2016
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
What sparked Pat Hopkins' interest in manufacturing wasn't just the technology, but the engaging logic of the entire fabrication process.
- From The Fabricator
Managing metal fabrication through the generations
- By Tim Heston
- Feb 10, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
Although the study of generations is an inexact social science, it may help company leaders empathize, minimize conflict, and get everyone on the same page.
- From The Fabricator
Lean manufacturing prepares lawn care OEM for the future
- By Tim Heston
- Feb 10, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
After rapid growth, a commercial lawn care OEM prepares for the future with better part flow, better production controls, better communication, and better planning. The company’s continuous improvement initiative is well on its way.
- From The Fabricator
26 Commerce Road and the life of the small manufacturer
- By Tim Heston
- Feb 4, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
A small industrial building just off the highway in northeast Pennsylvania has seen a few businesses come and go. Their stories tell a lot about what it’s like to be a small manufacturer in the U.S.
- From The Fabricator
Voices that matter, in Iowa and the metal fabrication shop floor
- By Tim Heston
- Feb 2, 2016
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Having your voice matter may be at the core of good culture. This may apply as much to Iowa voters as it does to people on the fab shop floor.
- From The Fabricator
Structural tube fabrication: Getting a solid connection for HSS
- By Tim Heston
- Feb 1, 2016
- Tube and Pipe Fabrication
- Article
One architectural fabricator has developed a connection and fabrication system for the modular construction of hollow structural sections, or HSS. Such connections show just how efficient modular construction can be.
- From The Fabricator
Brushing up sheet metal assembly
- By Tim Heston
- Feb 1, 2016
- Assembly and Joining
- Article
Scratching a cosmetically critical part during assembly can be costly. This is where choosing the right material for the assembly table surface can be critical. It’s here that the table brush may be able to help.
- From The Fabricator
Perspective on 2016: Metal fabricators stand ready to swing
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 19, 2016
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
For U.S. manufacturers, 2016 is full of uncertainty. But shops with diversified customer bases and healthy balance sheets stand ready to swing.
- From The Fabricator
Building improvement at JCB: A case study in lean manufacturing
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 6, 2016
- Assembly and Joining
- Article
The part flow at JCB’s Savannah plant has changed significantly over the past six years. The company redesigned a major product line to meet customer demand while also making part flow much easier to manage.
- From The Fabricator
A “digital thread” runs through FABTECH, North America’s largest metal fabrication show
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 6, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
FABTECH broke records again in 2015, drawing more attendees and exhibitors than ever. One theme this year seemed to pervade the event. It relates to what keynote speaker Karen Kerr, director of advanced manufacturing at GE Ventures, called a “digital thread” through the manufacturing supply chain.
- From The Fabricator
Differentiation in manufacturing: Cadence hits its unique stride
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 4, 2016
- Laser Welding
- Article
Cadence, Inc. in Staunton, Va., launched with a proprietary technology. But if the company had relied solely on that technology for growth, it wouldn’t be the $100 million, 500-employee, six-location industrial and medical device contract manufacturer it is today.
- From The Fabricator
One metal fabrication shop takes on B2C
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 4, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
Launched in 2015, Florida-based MetalsCut4U offers low-volume metal cutting and bending to the consumer market. To make it happen, the company simplifies ordering and automates quoting.
- From The Fabricator
Fab shop customer mix: Hitting the right spot
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 22, 2015
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Interest rates are rising, oil prices are falling, and energy and agriculture equipment sectors continue to struggle. What's next for fabricators in 2016? The news isn't all bad, really, depending on a shop's mix of services, technology, talent, and customers.
- From The Fabricator
Managing a multi-generation fab shop
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 16, 2015
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Finding good people remains the No. 1 challenge in metal fabrication, but it's certainly not an insurmountable challenge.
- From The Fabricator
Workforce challenges: Can’t we all just get along?
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 15, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
Talk to managers in metal fabrication and they’ll probably tell you they have trouble finding “good” people. In fact, they usually don’t say “skilled” people. So what’s the difference?
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 03/05/2024
- Running Time:
- 65:35
After Ludlow Manufacturing Inc. (LMI) received The Fabricator's 2024 Industry Award, Todd Ludlow, founder and president of the...
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- April 24, 2024
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