All eyes on Dusseldorf : TUBE® expo hints at things to comeEconomists, bankers, and financiers use many indicators to gauge economic activity, such as interest rates, capacity utilization rates, the... Publish date: March 1, 2010 |
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Supply chain collaborates on bending project : Planning, cooperation keep project on schedule despite short time frameIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Figure 1 The complexity of the finished product stems, in... Publish date: March 1, 2010 |
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The Apple iPad in manufacturingImage courtesy of Apple On Wednesday 27th January 2010 Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, unveiled their latest creation - the iPad Tablet. Billed... Publish date: February 23, 2010 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 10 : Step 10: Don't give upEditor's Note: This is the final article in a 10-part series that has appeared in The FABRICATOR to let fabricators know what steps they... Publish date: June 13, 2006 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 9 : Step 9: Getting paidEditor's Note: This article is the ninth in a 10-part series that will appear occasionally in The FABRICATOR to let fabricators know what... Publish date: May 9, 2006 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 8 : Step 8: Submitting your proposalEditor's Note: This article is the eighth in a 10-part series that will appear occasionally in The FABRICATOR to let fabricators know what steps... Publish date: April 11, 2006 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract Step 7 : Step 7: Writing your proposalEditor's Note: This article is the seventh in a 10-part series that will appear occasionally in The FABRICATOR to let fabricators know... Publish date: March 7, 2006 |
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21st century marketing for fabricators : Part I: Why you need a strong online presenceFigure 1 We know from Google Research that 118,800 searches are conducted each year for "Sheet Metal Fabrication," 34,800 for "Welding... Publish date: January 19, 2010 |
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Small manufacturer, big heart : H & H Tube takes care of its people, community, even competitorsH & H Tube is one of those manufacturing companies that defies conventional descriptions. Its business model, its customer base, the... Publish date: January 11, 2010 |
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Learning to adapt : Fabricator adapts to changing manufacturing environmentIf an image is not displayed, click the hyperlinked figure number to view it. Although Production Cutting Services initially focused on... Publish date: September 1, 2009 |
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Faith in the face of a recession : Leading effectively during stressful timesDo you believe leaders can affect the stress level of those they lead? If so, what are you doing to help your team manage their stress during... Publish date: August 25, 2009 |
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'Greenergy'—the Next Big Thing : Renewable energy generation renews market, savings opportunitiesSince the dot.com boom and bust, everyone from investors to manufacturers to geeks have been looking for The Next Big Thing. Unless you have... Publish date: March 10, 2009 |
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We're all in this together: Fighting negativityMan oh man, is negativity rampant today. Turn on the news, and you're hammered with it, mainly because bad news sells better than good news,... Publish date: January 13, 2009 |
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Nobody's favorite word—LayoffsIn this second half of 2008, hardly a day goes by that mass layoffs aren't announced. In the first two weeks of November, GM announced plant... Publish date: November 25, 2008 |
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The price of green: Stewardship and prosperityIn 2007 "green" was the single most trademarked term, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In record-setting numbers, companies... Publish date: November 11, 2008 |
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No time to waste : Gotta-have-it-now attitude prevails at TubeFor the past decade or so, the headline stories have painted a grim picture for the world's economies. The Asian financial crisis (1997) was... Publish date: June 17, 2008 |
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Getting work from the New Domestics : Best prospects, foot-in-the-door strategiesPhoto courtesy of Honda of America It's not news that rapidly rising fuel costs are driving a paradigm shift in consumers' automotive buying... Publish date: July 15, 2008 |
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A matter of life or deathWhen you hear about someone who died of a heart attack at work, do you ever wonder whether the employer had a program in place that would... Publish date: June 30, 2008 |
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What fabricators need to know about REACHEditor's Note: Much of the information for this article was taken from documents posted on the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)... Publish date: June 30, 2008 |
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Automotive toolmaking tricknology : Applying NUMMI's concepts to tool and diemaking : Cut diemaking costs in halfFigure 1 A study conducted at a die shop revealed that the storage/delay stage represented the best opportunity for kaikaku, or leap in... Publish date: June 17, 2008 |
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When customers and suppliers file bankruptcy : What fabricators need to know to minimize their lossesAlthough economic growth in recent years has resulted in fewer business bankruptcies, increasing signs of economic slowdown may mean that... Publish date: June 17, 2008 |
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Accounting for growth in lean manufacturing : Job shop complements continuous improvement with lean accountingTraci (left) and Lori Tapani, co-presidents of Wyoming Machine, Stacy, Minn. Lori and Traci Tapani aren't your typical metal fabrication shop... Publish date: June 17, 2008 |
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Good leadership comes from insideHave you ever voluntarily changed jobs? If so, what prompted you to make a change? Was it a move up the career ladder? More money? Better... Publish date: May 27, 2008 |
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Where is the welding management?Management is best described by the functions it wields, including a certain list of activities for the purpose of achieving a goal.... Publish date: May 27, 2008 |
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Manufacturers in the dark on lighting waste? : Companies waste millions on inefficient lightingOperating costs can stack up quickly, significantly affecting the bottom line. Simple solutions to cut such costs sometimes are overlooked... Publish date: January 15, 2008 |
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Tube Southeast Asia expo sheds light on Thailand, regionIt's a vacationer's paradise—beaches in the south, mountains in the north, nightlife in the capital city, and low prices on nearly every... Publish date: January 15, 2008 |
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It's a wrap : Recapping the 2007 FABTECH® International & AWS Welding ShowIt's no surprise that show organizers, attendees, and exhibitors alike are billing the 2007 FABTECH® International & AWS Welding Show as... Publish date: January 15, 2008 |
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Capital equipment spending remains upbeat : 2008 Capital Spending Report reveals industry remains interested in new technologyFigure 1 Metal fabricating companies with one to 49 employees are the least likely to increase spending for capital equipment purchases in... Publish date: January 15, 2008 |
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FABTECH & AWS Welding Show report: Ready for new ideas : Show attendees find new strategies, technologies to expand their businessAt the FABTECH® Intl. & AWS Welding Show, attendee Clinton Plant of Seguin, Texas-based E.P.M.P. Ltd. made a good point. "We come here... Publish date: January 15, 2008 |
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Who will fill your shoes?Selecting successors is a hot topic as many baby boomers reach retirement age. Human resource departments are being forced to look for... Publish date: September 11, 2007 |
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Making it in Mexico : TECMA 2007 opens the door to a wide open marketMore than 160 exhibitors showcased their metal fabricating equipment at TECMA 2007. Mexico and the U.S.—two countries that are separated... Publish date: May 8, 2007 |
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A little innovation goes a long way : Small business is the leader in R&DEditor's Note: This column was prepared by the staff of Winning Workplaces, a not-for-profit organization that helps small and midsized... Publish date: May 8, 2007 |
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Selling your company? : Step 1: Find a good adviserIf you're considering selling your company, your situation is similar to that of a person facing major surgery: The most important decision is... Publish date: April 10, 2007 |
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Establishing an identity : Tube producer/fabricator devises market, branding strategy for growthAlthough Tarter Gate already had established a reputation for making gates and fences, five years ago the company decided it was time to delve... Publish date: February 13, 2007 |
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Get paid to make progress : How to qualify for an R&D tax credit in 4 stepsNot a lot of people would be unhappy about finding an extra $20 bill in their pocket, even though it probably wouldn't make much of a... Publish date: February 6, 2007 |
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Patented fan blade design helps keep Toyota coolSituation Toyota's 900,000-sq.-ft. Hebron, Ky., facility is its largest parts distribution center in the world. Given the size of the... Publish date: February 6, 2007 |
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Spending time with capital equipment : The 2007 Capital Spending Survey indicates that manufacturing expenditures will grow this yearAsk fabricators how they view business in 2007, and you'll likely get for a response, "Cautiously optimistic." In these days of potential... Publish date: January 9, 2007 |
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Live or die making tools : Tool and die shop scraps its business model to remain successfulIn a state of transition, the Niemela family business still bears its former tool and die name—NTE for Northern Tool &... Publish date: December 12, 2006 |
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Avian flu pandemic updateA January 2006 article on thefabricator.com, Is your business prepared for a pandemic? , addressed a topic that then received much media... Publish date: November 7, 2006 |
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What associations really doEditor's Note: This article includes information provided by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) . The official IRS... Publish date: June 13, 2006 |
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Managing Success : All together nowEditor's Note: This column was prepared by the staff of Winning Workplaces, a not-for-profit organization that helps small and midsized... Publish date: May 9, 2006 |
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Achieving quality global manufacturing networks : How best-in-class manufacturers overcome business challengesPressure from customers, regulatory agencies, and shareholders is driving manufacturers to produce higher-quality products as they continue... Publish date: May 9, 2006 |
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Management mattersEditor's Note: This column was prepared by the staff of Winning Workplaces, a not-for-profit organization that helps small and midsized... Publish date: April 11, 2006 |
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Metalform Nashville focuses on Southern manufacturing : Regional tradeshows to be held bienniallyEditor's Note: This information was obtained from www.metalform.com, and from the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA). For the most... Publish date: March 7, 2006 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract : Step 7: Writing your proposalEditor's Note: This is the final article in a 10-part series that has appeared in The FABRICATOR to let fabricators know what steps they... Publish date: March 7, 2006 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 4 : Accessing the bid packageEditor's Note: This article is the fourth in a 10-part series that will appear occasionally in The FABRICATOR to let fabricators know what... Publish date: June 1, 2005 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 2 : Identify your federal customersEditor's Note: This article is the second in a 10-part series that will appear occasionally in The FABRICATOR to let fabricators know what... Publish date: February 1, 2005 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 3 : Bidding on a jobEditor's Note: This article is the third in a 10-part series that will appear occasionally in The FABRICATOR to let fabricators know what... Publish date: March 1, 2005 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 6 : Pricing it outEditor's Note: This article is the sixth in a 10-part series that will appear occasionally in The FABRICATOR to let fabricators know what... Publish date: February 7, 2006 |
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Making your way as a job shop today : Profitability is just one facet of successKarl Fischer says that staying flexible, within the skills you have to offer, has helped him keep his business successful over the years.... Publish date: February 7, 2006 |
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Why companies really fail and how to turn them around, Part II : Manufacturing systems can help in the turnaround effortWorld-class manufacturing is a common catch phrase, but it's usually used even though the company has done nothing to justify the highfalutin... Publish date: June 1, 2004 |
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Why companies really fail and how to turn them around, Part I : Many problems, and solutions, point back to managementWhy do some companies fail or continuously underperform? It's a complex question with as many "answers" as there are heads of industries and... Publish date: June 1, 2004 |
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Is your business prepared for a pandemic?In September 2005 Dr. David Nabarro, a senior World Health Organization (WHO) official, predicted that an avian influenza (bird flu)... Publish date: January 10, 2006 |
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Removing the obstacles to success : Strategies for selling your companyManufacturers know that change is a fact of life. Products change, markets change, competitors change—nothing is constant in the... Publish date: October 11, 2005 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 5 : Obtaining the technical dataEditor's Note: This article is the fifth in a 10-part series that will appear occasionally in The FABRICATOR to let fabricators know what... Publish date: October 11, 2005 |
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Product liability : Part I: The myths and realities of managing product liability riskEach night millions of business owners lock their front doors and head for home, confident that their deadbolts, central-station alarm... Publish date: October 11, 2005 |
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Making the sale : Understanding what motivates a good salespersonWhy do some people purchase only Ford trucks while others believe in Dodge or Chevy products? Similarly, why do some companies prefer... Publish date: October 11, 2005 |
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Selling to GM – A tough customer gets tougherIt's no secret that automotive suppliers regard General Motors as one tough customer. The automaker's relentless focus on cost-cutting has made... Publish date: October 11, 2005 |
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Successful tradeshow tips for attendees and exhibitorsPhoto courtesy of 2004 FABTECH® International A tradeshow is the ultimate gathering, networking, and presentation opportunity for... Publish date: October 11, 2005 |
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Getting your mojo back : You can't energize others if you aren't energizedIf you are the leader or a manager in an organization, I have a question for you: Do you believe your energy level affects your employees?... Publish date: August 9, 2005 |
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Metal manufacturing's greatest concerns : Thoughts from the frontlineFigure 1 March 2005 "Fabricating Update" Survey Results In a recent "Fabricating Update" newsletter, we asked subscribers to choose... Publish date: May 10, 2005 |
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Making the best possible decisionsDecision-making is an important activity for business owners and leaders. It also can be a source of frustration for both the... Publish date: May 10, 2005 |
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Fuel cell useful linksHere are some sources for manufacturing projects related to alternative energies: 1. Hydrogen Fuel Cell FuelCell Energy Co. -... Publish date: February 7, 2005 |
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Keeping employees well and health care costs downHealth care costs have skyrocketed. While the medical community, insurance companies, and politicians address the issue, each group... Publish date: February 8, 2005 |
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Metal formers: Keep an eye on monitoring program : Might Congress consider a change in SIMA?The U.S. Department of Commerce issued a call for comments in August on whether to extend the Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) system... Publish date: January 11, 2005 |
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Pipelines to China : Tube China draws an international crowdJoe Shooshani was smoking a cigarette outside Hall 4 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC). He had traveled from Los... Publish date: December 7, 2004 |
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The evolution of automotive stampingTwo days after Magna International announced that it planned to open a North American assembly facility, Dieter Zetsche, CEO of the Chrysler... Publish date: December 7, 2004 |
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10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 1 : Think like the governmentEditor's Note: This article is a follow-up to John DiGiacomo's article in the August issue of The FABRICATOR, " Fact, fiction, and the feds:... Publish date: October 14, 2004 |
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Fact, fiction, and the feds : Dispelling myths about selling to the governmentWhen businesspeople get together these days, one topic they discuss is where to find new markets. Inevitably, someone will say, "How about selling... Publish date: September 14, 2004 |
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A growing force in Washington, D.C. : Agencies assist fabricators, manufacturersIf you take a thorough look at federal bureaus and agencies, you'll see quite an array of departments intended to promote a variety of... Publish date: October 12, 2004 |
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When hurricanes come : Dealing with the unexpectedAs I watched the power of these hurricanes on television, I wondered how they must have altered the lives of thousands of people. What... Publish date: October 12, 2004 |
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The case for open-book managementEditor's Note: This column was prepared by the staff of Winning Workplaces, a not-for-profit organization that helps small and midsized... Publish date: September 14, 2004 |
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Scraping the hull: Ridding your organization of barnaclesEditor's Note: A version of this article previously appeared in the March 2004 Lean Into It newsletter. What do barnacles and lean... Publish date: April 6, 2004 |
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Wise words from the mountaintop—Part 1 : Wise words from the mountaintop and selective-attention disorderPrevailing economic conditions have put me in a funk. It seems that the last time I really knew what I was doing as a business manager was in... Publish date: January 13, 2004 |
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Implementing open-book management : A management philosophy for surviving the global economyEditor's Note: This article is adapted from Larry Dunville's workshop presented at the STAMPING Journal® Forum: Strategies for Stamping... Publish date: March 11, 2004 |
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US. DOC Offers Export Assistance : Provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration.Editor's Note: This article—a companion piece to Goin' Global , which appeared in the March 2004 issue of The FABRICATOR® magazine and... Publish date: March 11, 2004 |
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Taxing situation : New tax incentives aimed at helping out people like metal fabricatorsThat's why The FABRICATOR® sought out a tax expert to explain the opportunities presented by the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief... Publish date: January 29, 2004 |
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Made in the U.S.A.When I lived in Belvidere, there was a "Buy American" mentality. At that time manufacturers, particularly those in the automobile and... Publish date: January 13, 2004 |
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New Year's Resolutions : Making them work all year longWhat causes us to fail to follow-through on those well-intentioned resolutions we make every year? And a more important question is, How do we... Publish date: January 13, 2004 |
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Reflection—Getting the most from experienceAs a sharp leader, you look for ways to evaluate progress. You know how essential it is to benchmark activities that make you... Publish date: November 20, 2003 |
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Workers' compensation—Managing the processEditor's note: Portions of this article were published previously in an issue of FMA/TPA "Member Connections." State workers'... Publish date: November 20, 2003 |
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Performance appraisals are an ongoing processThe annual employee performance appraisal is an event that creates a great deal of anxiety in both the supervisor and subordinate. Much of the... Publish date: March 28, 2002 |
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What price workers' compensation insurance?According to an article in the June 23 issue of The New York Times , the cost of workers' compensation insurance has soared to its highest... Publish date: July 10, 2003 |
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Managers are not necessarily leadersThere are business leaders and there are business managers. And while some leaders are managers and some managers are leaders, many times leaders... Publish date: June 26, 2003 |
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Mediating commercial conflictThe Family Business This case involves two blood relatives, a brother and sister who had inherited a family business. Difficulties... Publish date: May 15, 2003 |
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A different battlefield, the same strategy : How the OODA Loop applies to businessThe OODA Loop One strategy that has stood the test of time is the Observation, Orientation, Decision, and Action (OODA) Loop. In this... Publish date: March 27, 2003 |
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Plan ahead : The what, who, how, when, and where of project managementTechnological advances have influenced the welding industry heavily. Computerized equipment, precision robotics, positioning devices, and new and... Publish date: January 24, 2002 |
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KNOWLEDGE: The key to welding productivity? : Study's findings have different meanings across manufacturing sectorsIn the year 2000 manufacturing, construction, and mining industries had $34.1 billion worth of welding-related expenses. At the same time... Publish date: January 16, 2003 |
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Building a better business model: Strategic planning basics for automotive stampers to improve profitAutomotive metal stamping companies today face increasing challenges, including lower sales volumes, greater price reduction demands from... Publish date: October 11, 2001 |
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Surviving cost-cutting pressures from OEMs : Suppliers use gain sharing to cut costsDuring an economic downturn nothing is more important to manufacturing executives than reducing costs. To do this, a manufacturer must... Publish date: February 1, 2002 |
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Put your money where your mouse is: How to succeed in e-businessSucceeding in e-business is all a matter of emphasis. And when you pronounce the word "e-business," where do you put the emphasis? Most of us... Publish date: February 19, 2001 |
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Achieving cost-effective environmental compliance : How outsourcing waste management can helpNote: While this article discusses federal environmental statutes, many states have implemented programs that are at least as stringent as... Publish date: February 14, 2002 |
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No substantiation, no deduction : If you don't have records, the IRS can't give you tax breaksFabricators should keep records carefully to avoid disallowed deductions and the ever-escalating amounts that add up until that lack of records,... Publish date: August 15, 2002 |
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Managing innovation in the factory : Turning improvements into intellectual propertyThe common view that new things start in a research and development lab is not always true. Some useful innovations come right off the factory... Publish date: February 15, 2001 |
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Organizational planning : Delegating authority to those wearing multiple hatsHave you ever played volleyball at a company picnic? It can be a lot of fun, and the rules are easy enough so that everyone can be invited to... Publish date: March 28, 2002 |
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Survival in a down economyWe manufacturers traditionally respond to reduced demand in the marketplace by cutting our work forces, tightening our expenses, and cutting... Publish date: January 10, 2002 |
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That's the Deal - Sales strategies—Part 2 : More tips for bettering your bottom lineRemember this maxim: Everybody is in sales. Because they are, are they not? Everyone has the ability to make an impression on customers that will... Publish date: March 14, 2002 |
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To e, or not to e? : Hamlet.com? Not quite, but automakers trying to save princely sums via InternetTo e, or not to e? And the answer is complex. Electronic commerce was heavily hyped in the past half decade. The auto industry, it was... Publish date: October 25, 2001 |
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Huge possibilities, tiny tools Nanotechnology--the science of small--could change the metals industry in a very big wayWhen comedian Steve Martin told his audiences "Let's get small" in the 1970s, nanotechnology probably registered just above "jab eye with hot... Publish date: March 13, 2001 |
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The X, Y, Z's of ManagementMarty Rice I recently read that a bachelor's degree now is expected to take five years instead of four. I was glad to hear that, seeing... Publish date: January 16, 2003 |