Shop Operations

Articles • May 1, 2012 • Keith Jennings

A they did what?! moment

In spite of my good intentions, trying to understand an employee's logic for engaging in certain behaviors can be bewildering, writes Manager's Desk columnist Keith Jennings in the May 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

Articles • May 1, 2012

The Russian spy

Check out the Shop Operations column in the May 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering to learn how a WWII-era Russian spy continues to serve as a cautionary tale about the perils of daydreaming.

Articles • April 1, 2012

Tips for turning parts on manual lathes, part 1

Shop Operations columnist Tom Lipton offers tips for enhancing the operation of a manual lathe in the April 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Articles • April 1, 2012 • Keith Jennings

Leveraging peer relationships

As we climb out of the winter grind, we've all had our share of weighty issues to manage.

Articles • March 1, 2012 • Keith Jennings

To float or not to float

At my shop and others I've been in contact with, cash flow and timely payment have become issues that require greater scrutiny. If that's the case at your shop, dealing with them effectively will be a test of your management skills.

Articles • March 1, 2012

Primer on the king of machines

Shop Operations: The manual lathe is the cornerstone of any machine shop because almost all shop workers find themselves working on one when they start. The manual lathe has been called the "king of machines," for good reason. Some can be enormous; you can bet that if you need a forklift and a ladder to put a tool bit in the machine, some fun is bound to happen.

Articles • February 1, 2012

Rigging and lifting safely

In the olden days, riggers were the guys on the ground placing slings and chains around the object to be moved while the crane operator waited for their signals to begin lifting. Today, rigging in a small shop falls to the guys standing closest to the equipment when something needs to be moved.

Articles • February 1, 2012 • Keith Jennings

Motivating with money

Money as a motivational tool can take the form of an employee's pay rate, commissions, bonuses and, perhaps once a certain level of seniority is reached, paid health insurance premiums. Not only do employees like it, but it's often a simpler solution. Adding a few bucks to a paycheck is a lot faster and easier than establishing many other incentives.

Articles • January 1, 2012

Magic carpet ride

Shop Operations columnist, Tom Lipton, discusses the issue of safety when workers transport sheet metal in the January 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

Articles • January 1, 2012 • Keith Jennings

Effectively screening new projects

Manager's Desk columnist Keith Jennings offers some guidance for effectively screening new projects in the January 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

Articles • December 1, 2011

Making the most of metal sawing

The Shop Operations column in the December 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine offers some tips when sawing metal.

Articles • December 1, 2011 • Keith Jennings

Manufacturing: The comeback kid

The Manager's Desk column in the December 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering addresses the importance of developing interest in manufacturing careers.