Production or fabrication processes can include dozens of stages to convert raw materials into finished goods. Regardless of the raw material or the finished product, one factor is constant - - most metals look alike.

Knowing how chemicals tend to react with one another and how each type of lubricant and coolant commonly used during steel processing tends to behave is a boon when you're trying to fabricate products properly.

What sort of safety measures needed in your shop depends somewhat on your equipment, but making your press brake a safe piece of equipment is largely a matter of old-fashioned common sense.

Knowing how steel tends to react when it is bent in a single operation can help you do the job right the first time.

The number of opportunities to steer your company wrong during a move toward lean manufacturing are myriad. Knowing a few of the common ones may help you achieve your goals without a lot of headaches.

Devising a strategy for selling your company that fits within your goals and current market conditions is essential

The idea was to have e-commerce solve everything. Then the thud of a million dot-coms hitting bottom gave people a new perspective. Are automakers still hip on e-commerce? You'd better believe it.

Hydroforming the parts in a vehicle structure can be of immense benefit on several counts, as a review of a recent project at the author's company can attest.