Author: ccrisler
Published January 2006
By Monte Guitar
Ted Nugent, internationally acclaimed recording artist, political conservative and ultimate conservationist, will be the key-note speaker at PMPA’s upcoming National Technical Conference in Dearborn, Michigan, from April 29 to May 2, 2006. “Best Practices Driving Change” is the theme for this event. America’s number one outdoors role model and wildman of rock-n-roll will give his version of unyielding, full steam ahead, best- practice focus.
Published January 2006
By Miles Free
The safety of our employees, precision and quality workmanship have always been guiding principles in the precision machining industry.
Published November 2005
By Miles Free
PMPA provides members with technical understanding on this key issue.
The PMPA Technology Services Department has recently published a technical overview of 5 European directives and regulations. The report is available only to PMPA members.
Published September 2005
By Miles Free
I recently attended the Steel Success Strategies conference in NewYork City. My purpose was to find out what is going on in the world markets for our steel raw materials. The following comments were of such broad interest and applicability, I thought I’d pass them along for your review.
Published August 2005
By Miles Free
I was talking the other day with the chief executive of a shop when he made the following comment, “We have record-breaking sales, yet we’re barely breaking even. We ran the numbers, and on almost every line item, our costs are up a tenth of a percent or so. That doesn’t sound like much, but at the end of our study, those one-tenths added up to almost 7 percent. The Fed and Greenspan missed it. Inflation is alive and well. I can show it to you in my books.”
Published June 2005
By Monte Guitar
Upfront definition eases compliance.
It is a huge and important endeavor to maintain an effective calibration system in any machine shop. Performing appropriate statistical studies on the equipment that makes up this system is also a necessity that must be managed properly. An improperly defined Repeatability and Reproducibility (R&R) program can drain a company of resources and reduce the effectiveness of the shop.
Published June 2005
By Miles Free and Peter A. Rome
The Uniform Commercial Code is the source for commercial laws
Today’s quality systems mandate contract review as an integral part of an enterprise’s critical business system. Terms and conditions are seldom given the critical examination that they deserve. While they are often thought of as mere contingency details, the day may come when the contingency has arrived. How has your organization implemented contract review?
Published April 2005
By Monte C. Guitar
You have an effective audit program, but you and your team are in a rut. The same routine has been a part of your process since you implemented ISO 9001:2000. You meet all of the requirements defined within Section 8.2.2 “Internal Audit” of the standard, but it is becoming a cumbersome fact collection process without a whole lot of difference or creativity between audits.
Published March 2005
By Miles Free
Over the 4 years that a cadet is at the United States Military Academy at West Point, only once are the parents invited to spend a day with their son or daughter. That day typically includes attending a few classes, seeing the barracks, and getting a first-hand glimpse of the cadet’s new home. I was quite impressed with a couple of the leadership lessons that I picked up while tagging along with my daughter on this special day.
Published January 2005
By Miles Free
Material price escalations exceeding 100 percent; surcharges on top of surcharges; lead times are in excess of 40 weeks on certain items. What can a precision machined products company do to make the best of this current material market maelstrom? How about using lean tools to help minimize the impacts of the current market conditions?