INNOVATIONS IN PLASMA

Like lasers, plasma cutters are on the cutting edge of simplicity, precision and productivity. Many of our customers have seen how new technologies in high definition plasma has made it even more user-friendly, flexible and productive.

This month, in "Mechanized Plasma Cutting," The Fabricator magazine examines plasma cutting and how it’s helping fabricators attain both tighter tolerances along with greater productivity.

Take a look at the complete article here.

The Impact of Manufacturing

Just how important is manufacturing to the over economy?

Here in Wisconsin, it's vital. Always has been, and will be for years to come. So says a new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce National Chamber Foundation and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.

In 2001, Wisconsin had a 65% higher manufacturing job concentration than a typical state. Today, it's 88%. But huge challenges, including an aging workforce, remain.

Read more about it in this article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Women in Welding

While women hold many rules in the steel industry, the lucrative area of welding has been an exception. But that’s changing, including here in the Midwest.

“Welding: a Viable Option for Women,” from The Fabricator magazine, points this out through the eyes of Rachel Koon of Charleston, S.C. She followed her husband into the sheet metal industry and is now a exceptional welder. "A lot of women think it's hot and sweaty and dangerous. It's very safe," said Koon. "It's a great way to support your family,” Read more about it here.

In Cleveland, welding instructor Richard Hart teaches a 3-year arc welding and job placement course called “Project WELD” (worthy employment leadership development). The freshman class is 50% women. The complete article, from Welding Design & Fabrication, is here.

But the best is happening here. This year, alone, Moraine Park, Wisconsin Indianhead, and Northeast Wisconsin Technical Colleges were among those hosting special events and courses specific to Women in Welding.

The future looks bright indeed.

Government Contracts

Doing business with the Federal government can reap huge rewards. Yet, getting there can be a daunting task. Northeast Wisconsin’s Insight Magazine (“connecting business and people in the New North) takes a look at several manufacturers and what it took to get involved.

With time, patience and the right strategy, the projects are a big opportunity for component makers, providers of manufacturing services such as machining or welding, as well as services like painting, electrical or maintenance. More importantly, though, is having a company culture that lets you become a trusted part of one of the supply chain, one that fosters information sharing, continuous quality improvement and cost reductions.

You can read the full article here.

For more, read “What It Really Takes to Do Business with the Federal Government” from the American Express Open Forum newsletter.

RAISING PRICES IN A TIGHT ECONOMY

We all know that manufacturing costs change rapidly these days, everything from raw materials to equipment, utilities and shipping. That’s where a company’s own fixed prices can easily get them into a bind.

In Production Machining Magazine, business expert, Mitch Gooze, shares some specific ideas that can help fabricators and manufacturers avoid getting trapped in a too-low, fixed-price quandary.

Here’s one example:
A common practice that is more visible these days than in the past is bundling versus unbundling. The simplest example is the airline industry. In the “old” days, you bought a ticket for a price and everything was included: luggage, food, a seat, and so on. Today, depending on the airline you choose, the fare is for the ticket only. Luggage (even a carry on in the case of one airline), food and preferred seating is extra. The airlines have unbundled their pricing to achieve higher prices. This has occurred because their customers focus on the price of the ticket to make their buying decision, not the total cost of travel.

You can read his complete article here

MORE LOCAL MANUFACTURING DATA

Manufacturers in the Milwaukee area continued to increase their production in July, but at a slightly slower pace than June.

The Institute of Supply Management (ISM) Milwaukee’s Seasonally Adjusted Purchasers Managers Index dipped to 59 in July from June’s PMI of 61. (Still, any number above 50 indicates expansion.)

According to the index, new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries and prices increased in July, but at a slower rate than they increased in June. Customer inventories declined, while the backlog of orders improved. Exports were stable with June’s level, while imports increased.

The survey monitors manufacturing activity in southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

You can read more from BizTimes here

COMING SOON: SMART MANUFACTURING

There have been a lot of innovations in manufacturing in recent years. Lean, Kaizan, micro-machining and more. Each of them with a specific set of purposes and benefits.

Here’s another term: Smart Manufacturing. This one is more than an efficiency program. Smart Manufacturing is the convergence of information, technology and human ingenuity applied to the inventing, manufacturing, shipping and sales of an item. It’s been getting most attention in large, global companies, but the same principles will apply to any size manufacturer.

Smart Manufacturing doesn’t replace Lean or any other program you have in place. In fact, those efficiencies will become even more in demand.

You can read more about it in this Special Report from Rockwell International