#PMPA

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?

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.

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

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. 

Craftsman Cribsheet No.115: Paint Your Edge to Gain an Edge!

Kindergarten skills for the shop. Do you color your inserts?

Roles of Women in Manufacturing Series: Human Resources — Brenda Diehl and Diane Ferrera

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

Markets Served — Who Knew?

PMPA members shared the markets they served in 2022. The top 5 may surprise you.