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Shop and School Symbiosis

PMPA member Clippard Instrument Laboratory has been working with Butler Tech for over 45 years and the benefits keep growing.

Carli Kistler-Miller
Director of Programs and Marketing, Precision Machined Products Association

How Do You Know What to Do Next?

Do modern, quality tools provide an answer?

Do You Have a Plan or a Wish? Strategic Planning | Part 1

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine de Saint-Expery

A No/Low-Cost Solution to Employee Retention

Studies show a little employee recognition goes a long way. Here are the 5Ws to consider for success.

New Thinking from the New Generation for the New Year

“We have to learn to think in a new way.” –Albert Einstein

Roles of Women in Manufacturing: What I Learned

Over 20 women were featured in the Roles of Women in Manufacturing series, which started in January 2023.

Machining Unleaded Materials — Reliability is Possible

Leaded steel is no longer produced in the United States. How do shops approach unleaded brass and steel machining?

My Journey to an Accidental Career that Became My Passion

“Machining was not the career I chose; it chose me.”

David Wynn
Technical Services Manager, PMPA

Craftsman Cribsheet No. 121: ISO Turning — What Does it All Mean?

How to make sense of all those different letters and numbers in ISO turning inserts.

Shipping/Receiving in Manufacturing: Yahaira Bermudez, Ramona Campbell and Elizabeth Colin

Three women share their journeys to shipping/receiving in manufacturing, and give advice to anyone seeking a career in manufacturing.

One Sign to Rule Them All

It is possible that one sign holds the key to understanding a shop’s culture and performance.

Craftsman Cribsheet No. 120: Safety Needs to Be Comfortable

It’s important to be conscious of how comfortability affects performance.

A Reflection on 50 Years in Manufacturing

Miles Free III shares his stories and the lessons learned over 50 years in manufacturing.

IT in Manufacturing: Bridget Casey and Missy Gedridge

Two women share their journeys to IT in manufacturing, and give advice to anyone seeking a career in manufacturing.

Implementation and Tracking: Strategic Planning | Part 2

A strategic plan that you have to dust off does not advance your business.

Carli Kistler-Miller
Director of Programs and Marketing, Precision Machined Products Association

Slings — Critical Infrastructure in Your Shop

Safe sling use is critical for a safe work environment.

Craftsman Cribsheet No. 119: Defeating the Hanging Cross-Hole Burr

Deburring is a tedious task that is better left to machines.

Engineers in Manufacturing: Madison Park and JoAnn Vlach

Two women share their journeys to engineering, and give advice to anyone seeking a career in manufacturing.

Craftsman Cribsheet No. 118: Put A Little Shine In Your Day

A few hours of preventive maintenance time now will save you an order of magnitude in downtime later by getting ahead of problems.

Roles of Women in Manufacturing Series: Manufacturing Shop Owners — Adria Bagshaw and Tanya DiSalvo

Two women share their journeys to ownership and give advice to anyone seeking a career in manufacturing.

E-Mobility — Opportunity, Not Existential Crisis

“We firmly believe that e-mobility presents a significant opportunity for innovation and growth.” — Markus Horn

Onshoring Weather Report: Strong Tailwinds!

Onshoring, reshoring, nearshoring: these terms are showing up with increasing frequency in the news and online. But is there evidence that these are real?

Miles Free
Director of Industry Affairs, PMPA

Craftsman Cribsheet No. 117: A Little Dab to Prevent Machine Downtime

Using anti-seize in threads can reduce torque values required by 25-30% and help reduce machine downtime.

Roles of Women in Manufacturing Series: Marketing Manufacturing — Debra Beevers and Courtney Ortner

Two women share their journeys to manufacturing and marketing, and give advice to anyone seeking a career in manufacturing.

Turned and Polished Steel Barstock: How It Is Manufactured, How It Impacts Your Shop

Understanding the benefits provided by turned and polished steel barstock and its differences from cold-drawn steel barstock can help you and your team avoid unexpected performance issues.

Craftsman Cribsheet No.116: Twist Drills for Success

Drilling holes is one of the most fundamental operations we do in machining.

The Battle for Performance: Efficiency Versus Effectiveness

Does your daily activity have anything to do with your effectiveness? The answer may surprise you.

Cold-Drawn Steel Barstock: How It Is Manufactured, Benefits to Your Shop

Understanding the benefits provided by cold-drawn steel barstock can help you optimize the work you quote by maximizing benefits to your manufacturing process and customer.

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