Miles Free Director of Industry Affairs, PMPA
Energy in Your Shop: It’s More Than Just Utilities
The existing power plant carbon emissions rule is said to only raise your electricity bill by 6 to 12 percent, according to the EPA. Energy bills are only 2.5 to 3.0 percent of sales in our industry. So, what’s the big deal?
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Craftsman's Cribsheet: 30 Potential Causes of Part Length Variation on Screw Machine Parts
There are many different ways that part length can vary when using a cut-off tool on multiple-spindle automatic screw machines.
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Business Success: Sustainability, Not Lowest Price
What problem has your team made go away forever in your shop? Can you name one? Two? More?
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An Update to OSHA’s National Emphasis Program on Amputations
In this latest update, NAICS code 332710, machine shops and most other 332 NAICS code categories are listed as targets.
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Process Owner Day Instead of Labor Day
Today, I celebrate the process owners, such as the machinists, that can tear down and set up a multi-spindle cam machine in less than 2 hours.
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Popular Heat Treat Colors for Steel Chart is Back
My “Temper Colors for Steel Chart” post remains very popular, so I thought I'd repost the chart illustrating the heat treat colors for steel.
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Causes of Part Length Variation on Screw Machine Parts
There are many different ways part length can vary when using a cut-off tool on multi-spindle automatic screw machines.
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6 Lessons I Learned about our Machining Business
Last month, I was privileged to attend Horn Technology Days. Here are the lessons I learned.
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Craftsman's Cribsheet: Plan. Do. Study. Adjust.
Continuous improvement is of necessity in the very DNA of our shops.
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Not Labor Day, Process Owner Day
Labor doesn’t add much value. In my experience, it only moved stuff around. The labor jobs went away. Today, I celebrate the process owners that can tear down and set up a multi-spindle cam machine in under 2 hours. They own their process and own their craft.
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Machining Book for Beginners
Although this book states it's for beginner hobbyists, it can be used to supplement on-the-job training for beginners, as well.
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Training Your Apprentices: A Project to Prove their 'Mettle'
At the recent Horn Technology Days, I spent some time hanging out with the apprentices.
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