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	All eyes on Dusseldorf : TUBE� expo hints at things to come By: Eric Lundin, Editor Economists, bankers, and financiers use many indicators to gauge economic activity, such as interest rates, capacity utilization rates, the... Publish date: March 1, 2010
	Supply chain collaborates on bending project : Planning, cooperation keep project on schedule despite short time frame By: Eric Lundin, Editor If 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
	The Apple iPad in manufacturing By: Martin Bailey, Contributing Writer Image 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
	10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 10 : Step 10: Don't give up By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner Editor'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
	10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 9 : Step 9: Getting paid By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner Editor'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
	10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 8 : Step 8: Submitting your proposal By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner Editor'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
	10 steps to winning a government contract Step 7 : Step 7: Writing your proposal By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner Editor'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
	21st century marketing for fabricators : Part I: Why you need a strong online presence By: James Soto, Contributing Writer Figure 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
	Small manufacturer, big heart : H & H Tube takes care of its people, community, even competitors H & H Tube is one of those manufacturing companies that defies conventional descriptions. Its business model, its customer base, the... Publish date: January 11, 2010
	Learning to adapt : Fabricator adapts to changing manufacturing environment If 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
	Faith in the face of a recession : Leading effectively during stressful times By: Dr. Bob Rausch, Contributing Writer Do 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
	'Greenergy'—the Next Big Thing : Renewable energy generation renews market, savings opportunities By: Kate Bachman, Editor Since 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
	We're all in this together: Fighting negativity By: Marty Rice, Contributing Writer Man 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
	Nobody's favorite word—Layoffs By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager In 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
	The price of green: Stewardship and prosperity By: Simon Wainwright, Contributing Writer In 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
	No time to waste : Gotta-have-it-now attitude prevails at Tube By: Eric Lundin, Editor For 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
	Getting work from the New Domestics : Best prospects, foot-in-the-door strategies By: Kate Bachman, Editor Photo 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
	A matter of life or death By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager When 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
	What fabricators need to know about REACH By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager Editor'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
	Automotive toolmaking tricknology : Applying NUMMI's concepts to tool and diemaking : Cut diemaking costs in half By: Gary Gathen Figure 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
	When customers and suppliers file bankruptcy : What fabricators need to know to minimize their losses By: Timothy McFadden Although economic growth in recent years has resulted in fewer business bankruptcies, increasing signs of economic slowdown may mean that... Publish date: June 17, 2008
	Accounting for growth in lean manufacturing : Job shop complements continuous improvement with lean accounting By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Traci (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
	Good leadership comes from inside By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager Have 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
	Where is the welding management? By: Elia Levi, Contributing Writer 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
	Manufacturers in the dark on lighting waste? : Companies waste millions on inefficient lighting By: Dave Riggle Operating costs can stack up quickly, significantly affecting the bottom line. Simple solutions to cut such costs sometimes are overlooked... Publish date: January 15, 2008
	Tube Southeast Asia expo sheds light on Thailand, region By: Eric Lundin, Editor, TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal� It'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
	It's a wrap : Recapping the 2007 FABTECH� International & AWS Welding Show By: Amanda Carlson, Associate Editor, and Tim Heston, Senior Editor It'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
	Capital equipment spending remains upbeat : 2008 Capital Spending Report reveals industry remains interested in new technology By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief Figure 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
	FABTECH & AWS Welding Show report: Ready for new ideas : Show attendees find new strategies, technologies to expand their business By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor, and Editorial Staff At 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
	Who will fill your shoes? By: Bob Rausch, Ph.D., Contributing Writer 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
	Making it in Mexico : TECMA 2007 opens the door to a wide open market By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief More 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
	A little innovation goes a long way : Small business is the leader in R&D By: Mark Harbeke Editor'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
	Selling your company? : Step 1: Find a good adviser By: George Spilka If 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
	Establishing an identity : Tube producer/fabricator devises market, branding strategy for growth By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer Although 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
	Get paid to make progress : How to qualify for an R&D tax credit in 4 steps By: Scott Schmidt Not 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
	Patented fan blade design helps keep Toyota cool Situation 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
	Spending time with capital equipment : The 2007 Capital Spending Survey indicates that manufacturing expenditures will grow this year By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief Ask 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
	Live or die making tools : Tool and die shop scraps its business model to remain successful By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer In 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
	Avian flu pandemic update By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager A 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
	What associations really do By: Kristen Darby, FMA Membership Director Editor's Note: This article includes information provided by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) . The official IRS... Publish date: June 13, 2006
	Managing Success : All together now Editor'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
	Achieving quality global manufacturing networks : How best-in-class manufacturers overcome business challenges By: Jane Biddle and Jim Brown Pressure from customers, regulatory agencies, and shareholders is driving manufacturers to produce higher-quality products as they continue... Publish date: May 9, 2006
	Management matters Editor'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
	Metalform Nashville focuses on Southern manufacturing : Regional tradeshows to be held biennially Editor'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
	10 steps to winning a government contract : Step 7: Writing your proposal By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner Editor'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
	10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 4 : Accessing the bid package By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner, Contributing Writers Editor'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
	10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 2 : Identify your federal customers By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner, Contributing Writers Editor'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
	10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 3 : Bidding on a job By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner, Contributing Writers Editor'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
	10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 6 : Pricing it out By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner, Contributing Writers Editor'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
	Making your way as a job shop today : Profitability is just one facet of success By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer Karl 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
	Why companies really fail and how to turn them around, Part II : Manufacturing systems can help in the turnaround effort By: Robert Vackar, Contributing Author World-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
	Why companies really fail and how to turn them around, Part I : Many problems, and solutions, point back to management By: Robert Vackar, Contributing Author Why 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
	Is your business prepared for a pandemic? By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager 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
	Removing the obstacles to success : Strategies for selling your company By: George Spilka Manufacturers know that change is a fact of life. Products change, markets change, competitors change—nothing is constant in the... Publish date: October 11, 2005
	10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 5 : Obtaining the technical data By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner, Contributing Writers Editor'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
	Product liability : Part I: The myths and realities of managing product liability risk By: Dave Ludwin Each 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
	Making the sale : Understanding what motivates a good salesperson By: Phil Pratt Why 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
	Selling to GM – A tough customer gets tougher By: Bernard Swiecki, Contributing Writer It'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
	Successful tradeshow tips for attendees and exhibitors By: Pat Lee, FABTECH Marketing Manager Photo courtesy of 2004 FABTECH® International A tradeshow is the ultimate gathering, networking, and presentation opportunity for... Publish date: October 11, 2005
	Getting your mojo back : You can't energize others if you aren't energized By: Dr. Bob Rausch, Ph.D., Contributing Writer If 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
	Metal manufacturing's greatest concerns : Thoughts from the frontline By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager Figure 1 March 2005 "Fabricating Update" Survey Results In a recent "Fabricating Update" newsletter, we asked subscribers to choose... Publish date: May 10, 2005
	Making the best possible decisions By: Dr. Bob Rausch, Ph.D., Contributing Writer Decision-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
	Fuel cell useful links Here are some sources for manufacturing projects related to alternative energies: 1. Hydrogen Fuel Cell FuelCell Energy Co. -... Publish date: February 7, 2005
	Keeping employees well and health care costs down By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager Health care costs have skyrocketed. While the medical community, insurance companies, and politicians address the issue, each group... Publish date: February 8, 2005
	Metal formers: Keep an eye on monitoring program : Might Congress consider a change in SIMA? By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief 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
	Pipelines to China : Tube China draws an international crowd By: Scot Stevens, Contributing Writer Joe 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
	The evolution of automotive stamping By: Bernard Swiecki, Contributing Writer Two 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
	10 steps to winning a government contract - Step 1 : Think like the government By: John DiGiacomo and Jim Kleckner, Contributing Writers Editor'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
	Fact, fiction, and the feds : Dispelling myths about selling to the government By: John DiGiacomo, Contributing Writer When 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
	A growing force in Washington, D.C. : Agencies assist fabricators, manufacturers By: Eric Lundin, Editor, TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal� If 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
	When hurricanes come : Dealing with the unexpected By: Dr. Bob Rausch, Ph.D., Contributing Writer As 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
	The case for open-book management Editor'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
	Scraping the hull: Ridding your organization of barnacles By: Gary Conner, Contributing Writer Editor'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
	Wise words from the mountaintop—Part 1 : Wise words from the mountaintop and selective-attention disorder By: Gerald Davis, Contributing Writer Prevailing 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
	Implementing open-book management : A management philosophy for surviving the global economy By: Larry Dunville, Contributing Writer Editor'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
	US. DOC Offers Export Assistance : Provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Administration. By: Kate Bachman, STAMPING Journal� Editor 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
	Taxing situation : New tax incentives aimed at helping out people like metal fabricators By: Dan Davis, Editor-in-Chief That'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
	Made in the U.S.A. By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager 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
	New Year's Resolutions : Making them work all year long By: Dr. Bob Rausch, Ph.D., Contributing Writer What 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
	Reflection—Getting the most from experience By: Dr. Bob Rausch, Ph.D., Contributing Writer As 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
	Workers' compensation—Managing the process By: Ron Wood, SPHR, Contributing Writer Editor's note: Portions of this article were published previously in an issue of FMA/TPA "Member Connections." State workers'... Publish date: November 20, 2003
	Performance appraisals are an ongoing process By: Terry White, Contributing Writer The 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
	What price workers' compensation insurance? By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager 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
	Managers are not necessarily leaders By: Steve D. Benson, Contributing Writer There 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
	Mediating commercial conflict By: Tom Oswald, Contributing Writer The Family Business This case involves two blood relatives, a brother and sister who had inherited a family business. Difficulties... Publish date: May 15, 2003
	A different battlefield, the same strategy : How the OODA Loop applies to business By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager The 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
	Plan ahead : The what, who, how, when, and where of project management By: Richard A. Dunbar, Contributing Writer Technological advances have influenced the welding industry heavily. Computerized equipment, precision robotics, positioning devices, and new and... Publish date: January 24, 2002
	KNOWLEDGE: The key to welding productivity? : Study's findings have different meanings across manufacturing sectors By: Stephanie Vaughan, Contributing Writer In 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
	Building a better business model: Strategic planning basics for automotive stampers to improve profit By: Jason C. Brewer, Contributing Writer Automotive metal stamping companies today face increasing challenges, including lower sales volumes, greater price reduction demands from... Publish date: October 11, 2001
	Surviving cost-cutting pressures from OEMs : Suppliers use gain sharing to cut costs By: Dr. Woodruff Imberman, Contributing Writer During an economic downturn nothing is more important to manufacturing executives than reducing costs. To do this, a manufacturer must... Publish date: February 1, 2002
	Put your money where your mouse is: How to succeed in e-business By: Bob Jackson, Contributing Writer Succeeding 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
	Achieving cost-effective environmental compliance : How outsourcing waste management can help By: Rich Wojnarowski, Contributing Writer Note: While this article discusses federal environmental statutes, many states have implemented programs that are at least as stringent as... Publish date: February 14, 2002
	No substantiation, no deduction : If you don't have records, the IRS can't give you tax breaks By: Mark Battersby, Contributing Writer Fabricators 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
	Managing innovation in the factory : Turning improvements into intellectual property By: David Kiewit, Contributing Writer The 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
	Organizational planning : Delegating authority to those wearing multiple hats By: Gerald Davis, Contributing Writer Have 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
	Survival in a down economy By: Frank Fenton, Contributing Writer We manufacturers traditionally respond to reduced demand in the marketplace by cutting our work forces, tightening our expenses, and cutting... Publish date: January 10, 2002
	That's the Deal - Sales strategies—Part 2 : More tips for bettering your bottom line By: Mick O'Donnell, Contributing Writer Remember 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
	To e, or not to e? : Hamlet.com? Not quite, but automakers trying to save princely sums via Internet By: Bernard Swiecki, Contributing Writer To 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
	Huge possibilities, tiny tools Nanotechnology--the science of small--could change the metals industry in a very big way By: Lincoln Brunner, Contributing Writer When 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
	The X, Y, Z's of Management By: Marty Rice, Contributing Writer Marty 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

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