Manage

1 Sep 2009

Tooling Transfer: Chaos or Calculated Opportunity?

Today there is significant pressure on OEMs and Tiered suppliers to transfer existing tooling to safer ground. This has presented prepared moldmakers with great opportunity.

Cutting Tools 1 Sep 2009

Cutting Tool Slashes Cycle Times by 75 Percent

This moldmaker reduces cycle times from 10 hours to two hours with a more durable, faster cutter that also leaves a nice finish.

Business Strategy 1 Sep 2009

If You’re Not Meaningfully Unique, You’d Better Be Cheap

These are the words of Doug Hall (www.doughall.com), founder of Eureka! Ranch and P&G brand-building wunderkind. It is also the mantra for the U.S. government’s latest initiative to lead manufacturing in this country into the new century. The goal of the new administration’s plan is to help transition discrete manufacturing companies—small and midsized manufacturers (SMMs)—from the “old” economic model (based on commodity and price) to a “new” economic model based on innovation, technology and “green.”

1 Sep 2009

Niche Auto Molds Prove to Be a Profitable for Cavalier Tool

Capitalizing on its specialty of molds for fans and shrouds in the automotive industry—on their own terms with no PPAP—drives this moldmaker’s success.

1 Aug 2009

Honoring the Industry

The Annual Leadtime Leader Awards—sponsored by Progressive Components—were designed to recognize outstanding North American mold manufacturers.

1 Aug 2009

The Value of Lean

Last month, I wrote of the value of manufacturing and business communities taking active roles in supporting the shops and plants that make up their local eco-systems. I gave examples of how some communities and groups have been very successful at helping their communities thrive through those efforts. Ironically, I recently heard some interesting news about our largest community—our country—that got me to thinking of how important it is for us to help ourselves as individual companies.

1 Aug 2009

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

News from the auto industry today is full of doom and gloom. However, there are steps mold manufacturers can take to remain profitable during this time.

1 Aug 2009

Five Tips for Capital Equipment Purchases

Cash flow is the foundation of any business, but it plays an especially important role when it comes to capital equipment purchases. By financing such purchases, businesses can realize several benefits, such as more consistent cash flow, preservation of working capital, better management of the company’s bottom line, tax advantages, streamlining of the purchasing process, and preservation of bank lines of credit.

1 Aug 2009