PM Blog
Employee Handbook – Empowering Employee Success
"The purpose of the Employee handbook is to make sure each person knows his or her responsibilities. The Employee also must be made aware of what happens when the correct choices are not made."
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Shop Saves Time, Money By Moving Part Finishing In-House
Today’s highly automated machining centers deliver completed parts faster than ever. However, once a part is machined, if the next step requires finishing, time gained on the machining end can be lost on the finishing end. This has changed for motion control component manufacturer Zero-Max Inc.
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Efficient Deburring Leads To Improvements
Although burrs may be the last concern that an engineer or machinist thinks about when focusing on a part’s tolerances and production rate, deburring plays a large role in producing a quality product. And when a deburring process becomes cumbersome, time consuming and costly, it is time to reevaluate the operation.
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Cutting Tool OEM Races To Supply Productivity Gains
As the owner and president of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, he oversees teams on NASCAR’s Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series as well as the Indy Racing League and Automobile Racing Club of America circuits. Throughout Mr. Ganassi’s entire career as an owner, he has continued to raise the innovation bar with a constant search for a better way to do things.
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Material Impacts On The Precision Machining Industry - October 2008
In this edition of Material Impacts we learn that the October price increase for steel appears to be dead due to lethargic manufacturing conditions. Only Aluminum, Steel and Coke are higher compared to the same month last year, September 2007; other items we track have fallen substantially. Aluminum is up 3.9% since January; down 17% since July. Brass Scrap is up 0 .6% since January; down 14.8% since last report in July. Copper Cathode is up 3.4% for year; down 15.9% since July. Scrap Nickel is down 21% since January; down 8% since July. Steel #1 Busheling is up 105% since January; down 4 % since July. (Actually, using October numbers, this commodity is up 37.3% over January and down 35.9%from July.) China Coke is up 58% since January; down 49.9% since July. To paraphrase the announcer on the car commercial: "Your pricing may vary. Always buy responsibly. Always buckle up." See links below for the latest Material Pricing information and China Currency publication.
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Faster Change-Overs Allow Focus On Machining
A creative Midwestern shop shows that its productivity edge runs all the way down to its relationships with vendor partners. With the right clamping and centering device, the company has been able to reduce workpiece change-over times by as much as 50 percent while improving rigidity and precision.
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It's Only A Number
A person’s age is often said to be only a number, with overall health and fitness being the truly significant measures. Cutting fluids, like all industrial lubricants, should be held to the same standards—it really is condition that matters. By focusing on that philosophy, a shop can achieve immediate, sustainable cost savings.
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Digital Dumpster
One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given came from an attorney coaching me on how to respond to government questions regarding an anti-trust case. She told me, "Don’t draw lines that divide." This advice has proven invaluable to me through the years, as I tried to draw a circle that included all parties rather than define a line between parties that divides.
Read MorePMPA Retains The Franklin Partnership For Government Advocacy, Lobbying
PMPA has a new partner in its efforts to represent the precision machining industry in Washington, D.C. The association has retained The Franklin Partnership to provide advocacy, lobbying and information services.
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Plymouth Steel Corporation
Plymouth Steel Corporation is a processor of carbon and alloy cold-drawn steel bars. The company was founded in 1941 in Plymouth, Michigan by Walter J. Bothwell. Currently, his grandson John Quay serves as chairman of the family-owned business.
Read MoreThe Only Way We Can Outperform
While at IMTS in September, I overheard a couple of comments about manufacturing competitiveness that made me scratch my head. The first went something like this: "The only way you can outperform other shops—those that typically have the same machines and cut the same materials you do—is to put better tools in your machines."
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Investing For Success In Demanding Markets
This company constantly strives to uphold a quality reputation, stay lean and continue to expand its business. It attributes its most recent success to the addition of three Variaxis machining centers.
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