Kanban inventory management was developed in the 1950s by Taiichi Ohno, a Toyota executive. He took notice of the way supermarkets handle and replenish their inventory, and applied those strategies to the manufacturing process. Today, kanban is a major component of lean manufacturing[...]
Architectural metal along the coastline has a tough job. Salt, wind, storms -- there’s always a threat out there, waiting to strip away the exterior moldings and trim on which you worked so hard. But choosing the best metal for coastal construction can at least slow the decay of your project’s[...]
The idea behind a
supply agreement
-- whether with a roll forming company or another manufacturer -- is pretty simple. The supplier provides everything a customer needs for a particular service, and the customer can count on a specified price and single-source service. Everybody wins.[...]
For most projects, no single factor drives the choice of metal for any kind of application. You might want something that’s easily formable but also strong -- or great looking -- or inexpensive. One topic that often comes up, especially for projects that’ll reside in harsh environments like[...]
Quick: Which charges higher prices for metal fabrication -- a company that has in-house roll forming tooling capabilities or one that outsources it?
When it comes to cutting metal, there are plenty of ways to get the job done. But when it comes to high-tech, accurate cutting, two of the most popular options are water jet cutting and laser cutting. They’re lean, they’re mean, and they look cool in action.
So in the battle between the water[...]
Mouldings are one of those architectural design elements that can catch your eye without you even knowing it. If they were removed, designs would look incomplete and unfinished. This is especially true when it comes to metal trim.
There’s nothing new or mysterious about “just-in-time” or JIT manufacturing. The idea has been around since the 1970s, and all it means is that you receive what you need just when you need it -- hence the popular term just-in-time delivery.
Yet, when it first came into practice, it shook up[...]
Finishing is the process of treating the exterior of a metal by applying a protective layer or unique aesthetic touch to its surface. There are numerous types of metal finishing processes that attain a variety of results -- many of which can add architectural value. Let’s look at some of the[...]
When you invest in metal materials, you expect them to last. But it’s a mistake to assume metal is immune to degradation from environmental and other factors. Corrosion can wreak havoc on the structural integrity and aesthetics of your parts. That’s why it’s important to know the factors of[...]
