PMPA Education Foundation
By: PMPA: Precision Machined Products Association -In 1999, the PMPA Board of Trustees established the PMPA Education Foundation to "ensure the future success of our industry by supporting educational research and related projects."
Member Profile: Allied Machined Products
By: PMPA: Precision Machined Products Association -Allied Machined Products is a family-owned-and-operated manufacturer of precision machined parts. The company was founded in 1946 in Worcester, Massachusetts, by Louis Weber, who retired in 1965. He was succeeded as president by his son Russell Weber who, in turn, was succeeded in 1987 by his son, current president Peter Weber.
Want to turn all those quotes into new business?--Come to PMPA Management Update ‘07
By: Rob Kiener -Are you satisfied with your company’s success in converting quotes to orders? Do you feel that you are getting a fair return on your investment in the quoting process? I frequently hear CEOs and sales managers complain about the amount of quotes that never seem to generate new orders. After working endlessly to respond to piles of quotes and prepare in-depth proposals, the hit rate on incoming orders is quite disappointing.
A Baker’s Dozen Of OSHA Moneymakers
By: Miles Free -The safety of our employees, precision and quality workmanship have always been guiding principles in the precision machining industry. What are the areas that we need to focus on for continuous improvement? Here is a baker’s dozen table of what the OSHA inspectors cited in our industry (SIC 3451; NAICS 332721 Precision Turned Products Manufacturing) for the last fiscal year (October 2005-September 2006). This data was current as of October 13, 2006.
Member Profile: Fordsell Machine Products Co.
By: PMPA: Precision Machined Products Association -In 2006, Fordsell Machine Products Co. reached a business milestone. The job shop manufacturer of precision-turned parts celebrated its 60th anniversary. Fordsell opened its doors in 1946 in Warren, Michigan, by Bill Sellheim and Gwayne Ford. In 1984, Michael Redfield, who had prior experience as a general manager at another screw machine company, purchased Fordsell. His main focus for the company was to use Brown & Sharpe as well as Index cam machines to generate business. In 1998, Redfield’s son, David, took over the company and is the current president of Fordsell.
Sentinel Events – Recognize, Respond, Revisit
By: Miles Free -Every day, we face numerous challenges. Urgent demands from others, unexpected events, system breakdowns, equipment malfunctions, and failed communications are "all in a day’s work," for most of us. Occasionally, a singular event arrives that has the potential to alter the circumstances of our life or work. Such an event is called a sentinel event.
#workforcedevelopment
A Problem-Solving Approach: One Size Does Not Fit All
By: Monte Guitar -Each day, organizations face challenges to become lean within their shops. Often, the focus of these lean activities is not extended to our management practices. Problem-solving methodology is one such management practice where simplicity is sometimes ignored.
#lean
Reduce Nonconformances With Automated Inspection
Are you tired of receiving phone calls from your customers requiring you to have a third-party sort? Perhaps you’re finally tired of having to deal with thousands of parts returned to you for sorting because of one or two nonconforming parts that made it through your system. You’ve made up your mind to eliminate this nonsense once and for all—but how?
Trends In Copper And Brass
By: Miles Free -Copper is selling for $3.70 per pound at the time that I am writing this in mid-September. Thefts of copper materials from homes, businesses and utilities are lead stories and front-page news on television and in the newspapers—even in the Wall Street Journal.
Numbers –The Delta Is The Difference
By: Miles Free -Numbers carry far more information than their value or size. Numbers can be thought of as having three dimensions or aspects: 1) the numeric value (arguably, the least important to the shop owner); 2) the delta (change) it represents in the quantity being measured; and 3) the vector or direction of the difference of that change from the preceding value or target (benchmark).