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More from Tim Heston
- From The Fabricator
The 2015 FAB 40: The largest custom metal fabricators grow even bigger
- By Tim Heston
- Jun 3, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
The 2015 FAB 40 shows a growing industry, with some of the largest shops posting the biggest revenue gains over last year. Will such growth lead to more industry consolidation? For some industrial sectors, probably, but for other areas of metal fabrication, probably not.
- From The Fabricator
Precision sheet metal bending, bump by bump
- By Tim Heston
- Jun 1, 2015
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Bump bending remains more art than science, especially for large and thick workpieces, but using the right tools and setup procedures help make this challenging brake operation much more efficient.
- From The Fabricator
Driving change, not fork trucks
- By Tim Heston
- May 28, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
Quality Industries has changed a lot in two years, and in another two years it will change even more. A new management team is putting a new emphasis on engineering and continuous improvement.
- From The Fabricator
Cheese, metal fabrication, and the future skilled worker
- By Tim Heston
- May 21, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
Over the past two decades, Millerbernd Systems has evolved into a complex entity--part fabricator, part automation systems provider. It also launched a local education initiative to ensure talent remains in the pipeline.
- From The Fabricator
Metal fabrication ripe for consolidation, or not?
- By Tim Heston
- May 11, 2015
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Will the custom metal fabrication business become more consolidated in the years to come? It's hard today, but more than likely, it will depend on the fabricator's customer base.
- From The Fabricator
Trust, respect, and the skilled trades
- By Tim Heston
- May 11, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
In 7 Success Skills for Apprentices and Skilled Trades Persons, James Sidney Harvey describes aspects of the skilled trades that you usually don’t learn in a classroom
- From The Fabricator
Flow, quality, and operational excellence in manufacturing
- By Tim Heston
- May 7, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
A fabricator can’t achieve operational excellence without good flow, and good flow isn’t possible without good quality. Kevin Duggan, founder of the Institute for Operational Excellence, describes how quality assurance intertwines with every process in a business.
- From The Fabricator
You can’t commoditize human connections
- By Tim Heston
- Apr 30, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
Ken Schmidt helped turn Harley-Davidson around, not by improving product quality, but by connecting to the people who bought motorcycles. That same connection can form the backbone of a fabricator’s success.
- From The Fabricator
Getting to the root of pipe welding automation
- By Tim Heston
- Apr 29, 2015
- Tube and Pipe Fabrication
- Article
Automating the root pass in pipe spool fabrication has always been a challenge, and making weld preparations more consistent just hasn’t been economically practical. In this market, advanced vision systems and adaptive welding have helped overcome these challenges.
- From The Fabricator
Truth on the shop floor
- By Tim Heston
- Apr 13, 2015
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
If truth comes from the shop floor, everyone should hear it.
- From The Fabricator
Quality shines bright at MACO
- By Tim Heston
- Apr 7, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
The recession nearly killed MACO Incorporated, a fabricator and machine shop in rural western North Carolina. But it survived thanks to some introspection and a new focus on quality certification.
Corte limpio con óptica láser de 1 micrón
- By Tim Heston
- Apr 7, 2015
- Laser Cutting
- Article
El láser de corte de 1 micrón de alto brillo está redefiniendo la productividad en la fabricación de metal. La buena absorción del láser lo ayuda a cortar más rápido con menos potencia. Esto También quiere decir que mantener la óptica limpia y libre de polvo es esencial
- From The Fabricator
Continuous improvement, from the first quote to the final shipment
- By Tim Heston
- Apr 1, 2015
- Shop Management
- Article
Burlington, Ky.-based Skilcraft LLC has changed a lot in the past decade. It has moved away from the traditional job shop model toward comprehensive contract fabrication. And it got there by scrutinizing every step of the manufacturing process, from quoting to shipping.
- From The Fabricator
Boring manufacturing data acts up a bit
- By Tim Heston
- Mar 31, 2015
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Economic indicators have been boring. This may change. The data slipped a bit this month, though it's too soon to say if it's a trend. Regardless, business owners are happy with boring.
- From The Fabricator
Gauging welding’s success
- By Tim Heston
- Mar 25, 2015
- Automation and Robotics
- Article
In recent years Ashcroft’s Connecticut plant has changed significantly. It’s an operation transitioning from batch-style production to lean part flow, and a new, flexible welding cell has helped the manufacturer prepare for future improvements.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/30/2024
- Running Time:
- 53:00
Seth Feldman of Iowa-based Wertzbaugher Services joins The Fabricator Podcast to offer his take as a Gen Zer...
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Navigating Change: The Manufacturer’s Guide to Change Management with ERP Implementation
- May 16, 2024
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Managing Dangerous Dusts from Metalworking
- June 26, 2024
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