It is no surprise that fabricators are always looking for ways to increase productivity; however, many don't realize that a simple solution sometimes can be found right in front of them.

Any manufacturing process that goes awry can result in waste in many forms, both obvious and hidden. A simple project in which tube is cut, bent, formed, and welded can result in large amounts of wasted money and time if one of the processes goes wrong.

An ironworker can be an important and versatile machine in a metal fabricating shop. Quite often ironworking is the first step in the manufacturing process, and one ironworker typically can provide enough fabricated material to keep up to seven welders or assemblers busy.

Editor's Note: This article is Part III of a four-part series covering flatness and stability in cut-to-length, slitting, and tension leveling operations. This article discusses how coil processors can make metal flat so it stays that way. Part I, which appeared in the October issue of The FABRICATOR®, discussed how flat-rolled metal gets unflat; Part II in the November issue covered flattening solutions and the anatomy of a bend; and Part IV in the January 2003 issue will discuss new applications and options in leveling equipment.