Frank G. Rubury

Well-managed companies have taken aggressive steps to reduce "at-rest" inventory by revamping their supply chains to support smaller, more frequent shipments. Industry sources have reported that some of the best performing stamping companies are turning inventory 28 times annually.

Although automakers' demands on automotive stampers fluctuate, under normal conditions, the variation in quantities of parts required is 20 percent or less. Most of the time the variation is substantially lower, although seasonal changes, such as holidays and plant shutdowns, can have an impact on...

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.