Friends, employees don’t mix
As a machine shop owner or manager, it's wise to stay out of the personal lives of employees.
Magazine Column
Shop Operations
Make a name for your company with community involvement
You can't say yes to every request but volunteering your time can be good for business.
Unorthodox machining odds and ends
Try these tips from machinist and moldmaker James Harvey in your shop.
Keeping the family together
Keith Jennings reflects on the for better or worse nature of family businesses.
Machine monitoring done right
It sounds so simple, but visibility and accountability are the secret to success with machine monitoring.
Reading still an important business practice
Electronic communications can be overwhelming, but taking the time to read them is a must.
Market your shop through the slow down
Manager's Desk: The time to sell your operation like never before is when things slow down and new work is a must.
Managing from a distance
Manager's Desk: Machine shops are often small businesses where balancing the professional and personal can be difficult.
A quality assurance audit has benefits
Manager's Desk: Although stressful, auditing for quality, health and safety can make a company better
Leverage relationships outside the shop
Manager's Desk: Networking can offer relief from the manufacturing grind and the blinders it can create.
5 stages of automation collaboration
Shop Operations: Safety the key to humans and robots working together.
Observant eyes and ears can keep problems in check
Keith Jennings knows that even the hardest working shop manager can miss things.