Lead Angle

Articles • August 1, 2012

Made (or not) in the USA

Cutting Tool Engineering Editorial Director Alan Rooks ruminates over the "Made in America" debate that flared once again thanks to the U.S. Olympic team's uniforms.

Articles • July 1, 2012

Retaining through training

The Lead Angle column in the July 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering addresses the growing interest in retaining manufacturing workers through training and retraining.

Articles • June 1, 2012

Let’s get together

After being offstage for many years, U.S. manufacturing had better be ready for the limelight. Another large research study has found that, not surprisingly, manufacturing is big—and it matters.

Articles • May 1, 2012

Job one? Selling jobs!

Cutting Tool Engineering Editorial Director Alan Rooks ponders one of the metalworking industry's biggest challenges of late—filling numerous job vacancies.

Articles • April 1, 2012

Is manufacturing overrated?

It's getting to be a broken record. February was another up month for U.S. manufacturing as output increased 0.4 percent. Output rose 0.7 percent in January after jumping 1.5 percent in December—the biggest gain in 5 years. Also, U.S. manufacturers added 31,000 jobs in February, on top of adding 227,000 jobs in 2011. Of course, the big question is how long can this last?

Articles • March 1, 2012

Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill!

States near the Marcellus Shale, a huge natural gas formation centered in Pennsylvania, are feverishly pursuing a $4 billion ethane "cracker" to be built by Royal Dutch Shell. The cracker will process ethane-rich gas from the Marcellus Shale into ethylene, and the ethylene will be used by the pharmaceutical, chemical and plastics industries. The plant will create 10,000 construction jobs and several hundred permanent jobs.

Articles • October 1, 2011

An inspiring tale

The Lead Angle editorial by Cutting Tool Engineering Editorial Director Alan Rooks ponders the question, "What inspires people to do their best?"

Articles • September 1, 2011

Which way to recovery?

CTE Editorial Director Alan Rooks laments the long and winding road to economic recovery in this Lead Angle editorial in the September 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Articles • August 1, 2011

Will plan amp up manufacturing?

In his August 2011 Lead Angle editorial, Cutting Tool Engineering Editorial Director Alan Rooks addresses whether the plan for the latest U.S. manufacturing initiative unveiled by President Obama will provide a boost to the industry.

Articles • July 1, 2011

The German Model

Cutting Tool Engineering Editorial Director Alan Rooks examines Germany's manufacturing model in his July Lead Angle commentary.

Articles • June 1, 2011

Small makes it big

CTE Editorial Director Alan Rooks ponders the good news about U.S. manufacturing of late.

Articles • May 1, 2011

Will tinkering ever get another chance?

Cutting Tool Engineering Editorial Director Alan Rooks recalls an era when repairing things was still in fashion.