In the steel industry and in the most general terms, anytime you see the word "stock" attached to another word; think, "stock used to make". Barstock, Bushing Stock, Rifle Barrel Stock, Pump Shaft Stock, etc. would be stock that you…
We have been actively pursuing adopting the metric system in the US roughly since the latter part of the 1700's. Its been dubbed "Mandatory" in 1809. The success of those efforts has only been eclipsed by Y2K and the great…
Every once in a while, I have to engage in something that smacks of shameless sales dialog. This is one of those times. So, grit your teeth, send small children out of the room and just get through it. If…
Recently we touched upon blanket orders. Today, we are going to look at them specifically as to how they might relate to inventory management. So, my favorite cautionary snippet warns about "Not shooting pool with anyone who's first name is…
The "partnering" discussed here, in the steel industry, will refer to a working relationship between supplier and end-user, where benefit is derived by both parties. One specific example that has been very effective is the blanket order, or blanket contract…
Is all 4140 alloy steel the same? It is common for 4140 alloy steel to be supplied in either the annealed (soft) condition, or Quench & Tempered (Q & T), the hardened condition. The hardened condition is used where added…
Iron ore, found lying around near the surface of the earth, can be heated and primitively refined (a cave man could do it) to become iron. Iron is soft and pliable, great for lots of things and better than a…
You are here The producing steel industry that survived looks much different than our grandfather's steel industry. "Standard Sizes" have taken on a whole new meaning. Bread and butter items that represented the largest tonnage sales require larger and larger…
Shortly following the end of WWII, many special military grades of steel became available to feed the ravenous growth in industries like housing and manufacturing. During that boom, the commercial sector found uses for new steel grades developed by the…
Whoever said; "Cuts like butter, or, Machines like butter", may not have meant that was a good thing. Visualize butter; not cryogenic butter. The thing is, you need a little hardness (read as strength) if you are expecting decent cutting…