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More from Nick Martin
- From The Fabricator
Breaking ground and moving forward
- By Nick Martin
- Jun 19, 2018
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
You know the story; you may have experienced it. Business is growing, and your shop is bursting at the seams with no room for expansion. It’s decision time. What do you do? Finding no existing facility that meets its needs, BarnesMetalcrafters, Wilson, N.C., is building its own, not just to meet today’s demand, but the future’s as well.
- From The Fabricator
Music in the shop—getting the right balance
- By Nick Martin
- May 23, 2018
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Music affects mood. In the shop, it also can affect productivity. The right blend can foster momentum and help get jobs done. Finding that blend may take some fine-tuning.
- From The Fabricator
Changing the lineup in a shop
- By Nick Martin
- Mar 28, 2018
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
A fabricating shop is analogous to a sports team in that both need the right talent, equipment, and timing to succeed. This account of Barnes MetalCrafters’ recent experience handling higher-than-normal-volume gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) illustrates how important these aspects, along with foresight and cross-training, are to a shop’s success.
- From The Fabricator
How to catch a scrap metal thief
- By Nick Martin
- Feb 21, 2018
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Metal theft is a serious problem for fabricators. Thieves are crafty and relentless. Wilson, N.C.-based Barnes MetalCrafters recently experienced a series of thefts perpetrated by a single individual who eluded the authorities for several weeks. The thefts, reporting, and follow-up consumed valuable time, but the culprit eventually was apprehended. Here’s how it went down.
- From The Fabricator
Assuming responsibility for the family business—It’s not that simple
- By Nick Martin
- Nov 30, 2017
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
When unexpected events forced Nick Martin to take over managing his family-owned shop for a few weeks, he learned much about running the business. He also learned how much he doesn’t know, and what it will take to prepare himself to take the helm one day.
- From The Fabricator
Work in a hurricane’s aftermath
- By Nick Martin
- Oct 25, 2017
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Hurricanes and other natural disasters wreak mass destruction. Much is lost, and it takes time to rebuild and recover. Fabrication shops play a vital role in these efforts. What happened at Barnes MetalCrafters following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma is a good example of what goes on in shops around the country.
- From The Fabricator
When pallets take over
- By Nick Martin
- Sep 26, 2017
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Housekeeping is just as vital, if not more so, to a shop as it is a home. Letting things pile up, both inside and out, creates eyesores, reflects poorly on the business, and even lowers employee morale. Look around. Maybe your shop has clutter issues, like mountains of old pallets, it needs to address.
- From The Fabricator
Communicating is key
- By Nick Martin
- Jul 25, 2017
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Fortunate is the new hire who has a mentor who provides that all-important on-the-job training. Fortunate is the shop that provides this mentoring. Sometimes that mentoring can be found elsewhere.
- From The Fabricator
You can sit this one out, boss
- By Nick Martin
- Jun 28, 2017
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Not a fan of meetings? You’re not alone. Endless meetings, especially those in which little is accomplished, can seem like a colossal waste of time. However, the right type of meeting may be just what it takes to clear the air and lay the groundwork for improvement in a shop. This meeting can be even more productive if the boss does not attend.
- From The Fabricator
Going once, going twice … buying shop equipment at an auction
- By Nick Martin
- Apr 26, 2017
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Taking advantage of used-equipment sales and auctions is one way to help outfit your shop. Barnes MetalCrafters’ Tim and Nick Martin picked up some bargains at a recent auction. They also had a close encounter of the uncomfortable kind.
- From The Fabricator
A good shop takes care of its own
- By Nick Martin
- Mar 28, 2017
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
‘They say that everyone is replaceable, but some people and their positive work ethic just aren’t.’ Such is the case with Miss Joyce, who is a very important member of the Barnes Metalcrafters family.
- From The Fabricator
You can’t make all customers happy all of the time
- By Nick Martin
- Feb 21, 2017
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Custom fabricating shops see all kinds of jobs, large and small. Flexibility is important. But when a small job results in multiple changes that require a revised quote and the customer isn’t happy, it might be better to let the job go. Yes, you need to please customers, but you also need to make money.
- From The Fabricator
Visualizing products made from flat patterns—a valued job shop skill
- By Nick Martin
- Dec 14, 2016
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Take a flat-patterned drawing and visualize the end product, complete with all of the necessary bends in the correct sequence and orientation. Can you do it? This skill is much appreciated in a metal fabrication shop.
- From The Fabricator
Repeat orders are manna to a job shop
- By Nick Martin
- Nov 29, 2016
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Job shop business is often cyclical. There are times of feast and famine. Repeat customers and jobs are the lifeblood of most shops. Finding and keeping them is a high priority.
- From The Fabricator
Running a shop in the aftermath of a hurricane
- By Nick Martin
- Oct 26, 2016
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
We hear a lot about disaster preparedness, but sometimes conditions are such that even the best plan isn’t enough. Hurricane Matthew had a devastating effect on many southeastern communities and businesses.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/16/2024
- Running Time:
- 63:29
In this episode of The Fabricator Podcast, Caleb Chamberlain, co-founder and CEO of OSH Cut, discusses his company’s...
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