Home \ Tags \ money

Articles tagged with "money"

Results: 49

	The importance of storage planning By: Joe Harnest, Contributing Writer Material and equipment storage can be a major concern for fabricators. Therefore, it is important to establish the purpose of a storage system and understand clearly what it needs to accomplish. Publish date: October 23, 2003 Tech cell: Materials Handling
	Big steel on the ropes: Consolidation looms for a troubled industry By: Lincoln Brunner, Contributing Writer Integrated steel mills in the U.S. are feeling the heat of foreign competition, pricing problems, and bankruptcies. How long will it be before consolidations start narrowing the field? Publish date: June 18, 2001 Tech cell: Metals/Materials
	Proper guarding protects workers: Six steps to focusing on your employees' needs By: Gerry Timms, Contributing Writer When people think of machine guarding, usually they think of devices to protect people from the moving parts on machinery. Publish date: July 12, 2001 Tech cell: Safety
	Maximizing your scrap's value: Diligence in preparation and tracking pays off By: Greg Cozzi, Contributing Writer The more uniform and contaminant-free that scrap is when fabricators provide it to recyclers, the more fabricators can benefit. This article addresses the two principles for selling scrap to recyclers: know what you're selling vs. what you're getting paid for, and incorporate sorting & cleaning into your production stream. Publish date: November 29, 2001 Tech cell: For CEOs
	Put your money where your mouse is: How to succeed in e-business By: Bob Jackson, Contributing Writer To decrease your chance of failure in e-business, focus on the business issues first and the technology issues second. Publish date: February 19, 2001 Tech cell: For CEOs
	Building a better business model: Strategic planning basics for automotive stampers to improve profit By: Jason C. Brewer, Contributing Writer Just what is a strategic business model, and how can it be developed and used by an automotive stamping supplier wanting to boost its bottom line? Publish date: October 11, 2001 Tech cell: For CEOs
	Mediating commercial conflict By: Tom Oswald, Contributing Writer This article explores some of the aspects of a commercial mediation I performed some years ago. The identities of the participants and the facts of the case have been changed to preserve the participants' privacy and the confidentiality inherent in mediation cases. This case was selected because of the intense emotional feelings that surrounded what should have been a straightforward and rather simple business arrangement. So often it seems that the feelings, emotions, and egos of the participants in a conflict can mean more than the dollars or tangible value involved. Publish date: May 15, 2003 Tech cell: For CEOs
	Taxing situation: New tax incentives aimed at helping out people like metal fabricators By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief Most fabricators aren't knowledgeable about tax laws and don't have time to immerse themselves in tax updates. They're too busy on the shop floor. Publish date: January 29, 2004 Tech cell: For CEOs
	Implementing open-book management: A management philosophy for surviving the global economy By: Larry Dunville, Contributing Writer Today global competitors are literally willing to work for food. U.S. workers want a car, a home, and a college education for their kids in addition to their meals. Reducing pay and eliminating benefits is not an answer for anything but a lower standard of living. The challenge is not reducing compensation but rather dramatically improving productivity. Making owners out of employees is the ticket to that productivity. Open Book Management is a philosophy—a value system. Publish date: March 11, 2004 Tech cell: For CEOs
	Family business going strong after 100 years By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager The average lifespan of a family-owned business is 24 years, and 60 percent of family-owned businesses do not have a clear succession plan. Tell that to the Peddinghaus Corporation and you might be in for a big "Oh really?" In business for 100 years and with a Peddinghaus still at the helm, the family-owned manufacturer of steel construction industry equipment clearly is a statistical exception. Publish date: December 11, 2003 Tech cell: Fab Stories
	Beating 'world' pricing: Nu-Way Industries finds the formula to take on competition from China By: Scot Stevens, Contributing Writer During the depths of the manufacturing slowdown that has cost the fabricated metal products sector nearly 300,000 jobs since 2000, Steven Southwell, president of Des Plaines, Ill.-based Nu-Way Industries Inc., faced a depressing challenge from one of his multinational OEM customers??either meet the ??total cost of acquisition? achieved in China or purchase the part from the Chinese supplier, inventory it, and incorporate it into the family of parts supplied by Nu-Way. Publish date: January 13, 2004 Tech cell: Fab Stories
	'It's gonna be painful' Metal industry players note little to reassure them in days ahead By: Lincoln Brunner, Contributing Writer Manufacturers were hurting before September. How do things look now? Well ... they could be better, industry players say. Publish date: November 15, 2001 Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis
	Mac's Muse: One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes ... gone! As U.S. steel industry gets its lunch eaten, many parties can share blame By: Don McNeeley, Contributing Writer A lot of parties can share the blame for what's happened to the North American steel industry, and its going to take effort from them all to pull the industry out of its quagmire. Can it be done? Time will tell. Publish date: November 15, 2001 Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis
	10 questions to ask about equipment leasing: Inquire before you sign By: Michael Fleming, Contributing Writer Equipment leasing—an arrangement in which a business pays for the use of equipment but does not own it—is growing in popularity for many reasons. Benefits of leasing include flexibility, convenience, and protection from having to be responsible for equipment obsolescence. Publish date: May 29, 2003 Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis
	Pinpointing future laser welding markets By: Lincoln Brunner, Contributing Writer Aficionados of laser welding technology at times must feel a little like telephone vendors beamed back to 1603. They know almost everyone is going to use them in the future, but getting buy-in today can be like hawking loans at 25 percent-lots of interest and few takers. Publish date: October 23, 2003 Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis
	A 'bout' with the champion By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief Rep. Don Manzullo speaks about taxes, steel tariffs, health care, and manufacturing's future. Publish date: February 26, 2004 Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis
	Tips on Lean Manufacturing: Mastering the stop 'n' go of your shop's work flow By: Gary Conner, Contributing Writer Mastering the flow of work through your shop is your most important taks if you are attempting Toyota's approach to lean manufacturing. Publish date: August 16, 2001 Tech cell: Shop Strategies
	Using technology to implement lean manufacturing By: John Leibert, Contributing Writer Lean manufacturing is more than a buzzword. It is key to improving a company's floor performance, customer responsiveness, and, ultimately, its bottom line. Yet few manufacturers truly understand what it takes to implement the concept. Publish date: June 12, 2003 Tech cell: Shop Strategies
	Getting the most for your money: 12 financial tips for welding professionals By: Bruce Fenton, Contributing Writer These include the importance of contributing to an individual retirement account, retirement programs for the self-employed, tax-exempt investments, $10,000/year gift tax exclusions, charitable contributions, how much money you should keep in checking and savings accounts, liquidity, and diversified portfolios. Publish date: August 16, 2001 Tech cell: Training and Retention
	The future of vocational education By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager The death knell is sounding for vocational programs throughout the U.S. Readers who responded "Yes, vocational programs have been cut" to thefabricator.com's recent question regarding the status of vocational programs where they live outnumbered those responding "No, vocational programs are intact" three to one. Publish date: June 12, 2003 Tech cell: Training and Retention
	Budget cuts hit welding hard: Extraordinary effort is critical to welding programs� survival By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer Publish date: September 25, 2003 Tech cell: Training and Retention
	Is your company a breeding ground for workplace violence? By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager Workplace violence—many of us think about it only when national or local media reports an incident. Most of us probably think it happens infrequently and never could happen where we work. And it's likely that workplace violence victims thought the same thing, before it happened to them. Publish date: November 6, 2003 Tech cell: Training and Retention
	Contract stamper increases die life and draw die productivity: Link-drive presses, value-added services, and employee initiative keep the company competitive By: Heinz Becker, Contributing Writer Publish date: November 15, 2001 Tech cell: Press Technology
	Hydraulic presses make their mark By: Lincoln Brunner, Contributing Writer Publish date: September 25, 2003 Tech cell: Press Technology
	Finding and creating value in your stamping operation: How to analyze your plant to improve profitability By: Frank G. Rubury, Contributing Writer A different breed of competitor has emerged recently in the stamping industry to challenge traditional thinking. These competitors are companies that focus on time as a basic measurement, giving them the advantages of flexibility, innovation, responsiveness, and low costs. They know how to make money in stamping operations and take business away from less astute competitors. Publish date: December 11, 2003 Tech cell: Press Technology
	Do you use checking jigs and fixtures?: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure By: Dave Petrack, Contributing Writer How do you check tube fabrications to ensure they meet quality standards? Do you ship parts without checking them and hope that the next time the phone rings it isn't a prelude to a tirade from a disgruntled customer? Or do you check finished parts only to realize that your scrap rate is too high and wish you had checked them at earlier stages of the manufacturing process? Publish date: July 10, 2003 Tech cell: Testing and Measuring
	The problem with quality: A closer look at quality ratings By: Bernard Swiecki, Contributing Writer In May, automotive quality gurus J.D. Power & Associates released the results of its 2003 Initial Quality Study (IQS). As is the case every year, the winners will trumpet their scores while the losers will promise improvement. A closer look at the numbers, however, reveals some interesting observations. Publish date: July 10, 2003 Tech cell: Testing and Measuring
	Part nesting and die design tips for reducing and utilizing scrap in stamping operations By: Art Hedrick, Contributing Writer You might be able to gain a competitive edge by learning how to reduce the amount of engineered scrap, or that material that was inteded to be scrap rather than scrap created because of defective piece parts. Publish date: November 15, 2001 Tech cell: Tool and Die
	Rising expectations spark new approach to draw die development: Reconciling demands for increased quality at lower costs By: Greg Faucher, Contributing Writer A recently formulated approach to draw die development incorporates simultaneous engineering to identify and address potential problems before dies are built. Publish date: June 13, 2001 Tech cell: Tool and Die
	Cutting die-related costs: Where to look to save money By: Michael Korneli, Contributing Writer Demands for cheaper, better, and faster tooling for stampings and the pace of business continue to escalate. This trend is not going to reverse itself. Publish date: February 19, 2001 Tech cell: Tool and Die
	Die width selection By: Steve D. Benson, Contributing Writer Publish date: July 24, 2003 Tech cell: Tool and Die
	Automating your end forming operation: How to maximize efficiency in the shop By: Dale Miller, Contributing Writer Efficiency, productivity, and quality are focal points for end forming operations, and many manufacturers are looking to automation to improve those dimensions of their businesses. Publish date: February 19, 2001 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication
	Waste not, want not: Array By: Array Array Publish date: Array Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication
	Using a gel-type tube lube: Manufacturer decreases waste, improves lubrication By: Keith M. Karbum, Contributing Writer Publish date: October 23, 2003 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication
	Choosing the right robotic weld cell for your operation By: Michael Passmore, Contributing Writer Your company's first robot may cause more trouble than expected. This doesn't mean that the robot will not work, but it is a piece of Publish date: January 29, 2004 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication
	Examining tube mill roll tooling, setup, and maintenance By: Dan Ventura, Contributing Writer In today's competitive market, two of the most important considerations for high-quality production are proper roll tooling setup and mill alignment. Publish date: September 17, 2001 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Production
	GMAW vs. FCAW for beginners: Choose the best process for your small operation By: Lincoln Electric Weld Technology Center Staff There are several pros and cons to using the gas metal arc welding process versus the flux cored arc welding process in compact applications. Publish date: August 16, 2001 Tech cell: Arc Welding
	Considering the benefits of pulse spray transfer GMAW By: Paul Niskala, Contributing Writer Publish date: October 25, 2002 Tech cell: Arc Welding
	It happens 'under the hood': Chicago-area builder of water gardens becomes sculptor By: Mike Dorcey, Contributing Writer Rick Walsh isn't your typical artisan, nor are his works typical welding pieces. But his personal evolution as both an artist and a welder illustrate the innovation and persistence of any successful welding operation. Publish date: July 12, 2002 Tech cell: Art and Sculpture
	Reviving the past: Welding students restore ironwork to Victorian-era YMCA building By: Bob Hollingsworth, Contributing Writer Publish date: May 15, 2003 Tech cell: Art and Sculpture
	How to Kill a Robotic Project in Five Easy Steps By: Jim Berge, Contributing Writer How would you like to fail utterly in your quest to modernize your shop with robotic weldingequipment? Look no further—we've got all the bad advice you need right here. Publish date: July 12, 2001 Tech cell: Automation and Robotics
	Is robotic welding right for you?: Making an informed decision By: Tim Nacey, Contributing Writer This article examines robotic welding and discusses the considerations behind choosing to use (or not use) welding robots. It answers the questions what comprises a robotic welding installation, what costs are associated, and what industries are best suited for robotic welding. Publish date: November 15, 2001 Tech cell: Automation and Robotics
	Gas-shielded cored wires find their niche: Suitable applications for flux-cored and metal-cored electrodes By: Dwight Myers, Contributing Writer Gas-shielded flux-cored and metal-cored wires are growing in popularity because the wires are fabricated and can be applied to many applications. Publish date: June 15, 2001 Tech cell: Consumables
	Shielding gas consumption efficiency-- Part I: Spend a penny, save a dollar By: L.R. Standifer, Contributing Writer Installing a bulk delivery system in your welding shop is perhaps the best way to save money Publish date: February 19, 2001 Tech cell: Consumables
	The Brakes- Press Brakes and You -- How to get the most out of your press brake By: Bob Butchart, Contributing Writer Problems with your press brake imperil what could be the most valuable machine you have. Take pains to ensure the health of this valuable piece of equipment. Publish date: June 18, 2001 Tech cell: Bending
	Making your own punch and dies By: Steve D. Benson, Contributing Writer How many times have you looked through huge piles of blueprints for a prototype part or short-run job and thought, "If only I had that tool, this job would be a piece of cake?" Publish date: May 29, 2003 Tech cell: Bending
	Press brakes: the quest for a happy ending: Manufacturers, users hope technology is the ticket By: Lincoln Brunner, Contributing Writer Screen some press brake owners and manufacturers these days, and it's like they're all reading from the same script: Publish date: June 26, 2003 Tech cell: Bending
	Repair Brazing: Fixing Faulty Jobs and worn-out components By: W. Daniel Kay, Contributing Writer Brazing has myriad uses for shop repairs. Knowing what seperates a proper brazing job from a poop one can save you alot of headaches and produce some slick results in the process. Publish date: July 26, 2002 Tech cell: Repair and Field Welding
	Turning up the power: Using lasers to cut thick plate By: Kevin Laughlin, Contributing Writer The most common power levels ranged between 1,500 and 2,000 watts. However, a statistical survey conducted by the AMT Laser System Product Group indicates a steady increase during the last 12 months of installations for high-power 3,000- to 4,000-watt laser systems and a decline in sales of lasers with power levels less than 2,000 watts. Publish date: July 12, 2001 Tech cell: Laser Cutting