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More from Vicki Bell
- From The Fabricator
How healthy is your business?
- By Vicki Bell
- May 3, 2012
- Bending and Forming
- Blog Post
The first quarter of 2012 is behind us. Companies of all sizes are examining their first quarter results to gauge how well they are doing and plan for the months ahead. Investors wait anxiously for corporations to tally, massage, report, and spin their figures, comparing them to economists'...
- From The Fabricator
How long has this been going on?
- By Vicki Bell
- Apr 26, 2012
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
How long have we been talking about a welder shortage? If you type "welder shortage" with the quotation marks in thefabricator.com's search box, you will retrieve a list of 367 articles; without the quotation marks, the list grows to 619. The very first article in both searches, "Feeling the...
- From The Fabricator
Fabricators on rebuilding manufacturing's infrastructure
- By Vicki Bell
- Apr 18, 2012
- Automation and Robotics
- Blog Post
It all started with a blog post by The FABRICATOR®'s Senior Editor Tim Heston: The moral imperative of U.S. manufacturing. The post discussed the manufacturing supply chain and how the U.S. must rebuild its infrastructure to compete in the global marketplace. It led to posts by Editor-in-Chief Dan...
- From The Fabricator
Unemployment benefits or a factory job?
- By Vicki Bell
- Mar 28, 2012
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
If you’re a regular reader of The Fabricator Blog, you may have seen the post about wages that drew comments from both employers and workers—both those who think current wages are fine and those who don't. These comments also offered opinions about why employers may be having such a...
- From The Fabricator
'Manufacturing is wealth creation'
- By Vicki Bell
- Mar 14, 2012
- Machining
- Blog Post
I've said it before, and I'll say it again … the very best part of my job is hearing from readers. It doesn't matter whether the reader shares my views or thinks I’m 'out to lunch.' What matters is that he or she feels strongly about the topic and takes the time to share his or her view. Each...
- From The Fabricator
Adding technical tracks back into high schools
- By Vicki Bell
- Feb 29, 2012
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Ever read something that makes you see red? Occasionally, I do. In fact, this happened to me Tuesday morning as I read an article on msnbc.com with the headline "Some employers want return of vo-ed training." My first reaction? "No kidding; this is old news." The metalworking industry has been...
- From The Fabricator
Making music in the U.S.
- By Vicki Bell
- Feb 23, 2012
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
If music is the universal language, then metal fabricators who make musical instruments and their components must be the masters of the universe. OK … that might be a stretch, but at the very least they are creators of products that can bring pleasure to many. (Sorry, but following my own...
- From The Fabricator
A U.S. export that might surprise you
- By Vicki Bell
- Feb 15, 2012
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Almost lost among today's msnbc.com headlines and the Internet chatter about Whitney Houston's death and whether the New Jersey governor is justified in calling for the state's flags to be flown at half-staff in memorial was a link in the "Business" section that captured my attention and made me...
- From The Fabricator
'Skilled labor standing right here, willing to relocate!'
- By Vicki Bell
- Feb 7, 2012
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
The January "Fabricating Update" included statistics and comments from the e-newsletter's recent survey about fabricator concerns. Some of the comments focused on the lack of skilled labor, an oft-cited concern in the fabricating industry and manufacturing as a whole. This information garnered...
- From The Fabricator
Advice for Ken about his welding career
- By Vicki Bell
- Jan 25, 2012
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Are you among those who "like" The FABRICATOR page on Facebook? If so, you may have seen the January 11 post from Kenny Johnson, who wrote: "Where does everyone see the future of fabrication in the U.S.? Certified welders, or welders with degrees but no certifications? I ask this because I am...
- From The Fabricator
Metal stampers' take on unions: Part II
- By Vicki Bell
- Jan 18, 2012
- Safety
- Blog Post
Last week's post, Metal stampers' take on unions: Part I, revealed findings from a "Stamping News Brief" (SNB) survey about unions. It also featured comments from survey respondents—both those who believe unions are still necessary and those who don’t. Those who believe unions are to blame for...
- From The Fabricator
Metal stampers' take on unions: Part I
- By Vicki Bell
- Jan 11, 2012
- Assembly and Joining
- Blog Post
Labor unions continue to make news. Today, sfgate.com published the article Twinkie-Maker Hostess Files for Bankruptcy Citing Pensions, which said that the baker's latest bankruptcy filing is being blamed on the weak economy and costs tied to pension- and medical-benefit obligations resulting from...
- From The Fabricator
'My story: How I became a welder'
- By Vicki Bell
- Jan 4, 2012
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
If you're like me, you're interested in people's stories. We all have them, and typically they are more interesting than we might think. FMA Communications' editorial department—the department in which I work—got together last month to brainstorm all things related to our print and...
- From The Fabricator
Act thankful: Buy American
- By Vicki Bell
- Nov 23, 2011
- Bending and Forming
- Blog Post
My favorite holiday is upon us—Thanksgiving. A day spent sharing a meal and quality time with loved ones; calling family and friends in other parts of the country; watching football (in moderation); and expressing gratitude for all the good things in our lives makes for a great day in my book....
- From The Fabricator
Reefer madness coming ashore?
- By Vicki Bell
- Nov 2, 2011
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
This past Labor Day weekend, my husband and I spent a quiet early morning hour on River Street in Savannah, Ga. River Street is a hopping place from mid-morning until late night, filled with people, music, and vendors selling hand-crafted items. It's the home of the second largest St. Patrick's Day...
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 03/26/2024
- Running Time:
- 67:51
This week on The Fabricator Podcast, Jason Becker, host of the Arc Junkies Podcast and owner of Underground...
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