Tips, articles, and insights for the metal and steel fabrication industries
Roll forming and building material manufacturers rely on skilled workers to perform tasks with reliability, integrity and productivity. High quality products are necessary to satisfy demanding customers and employees play a large role in successful operations. The other part of the equation is data. Business leaders must have operational insight to improve the quality of …
Continue reading “You’ve Hired Skilled Workers, Now Provide the Tools For Success”
Read MoreBusiness leaders, particularly those with years of experience in the roll forming and building material manufacturing industry, often have a ‘gut feeling’ or the simple intuition that business is going well and that customers are satisfied. However, is it really safe to base business decisions on your intuition? Drive your business in the right direction …
Continue reading “Base Your Bottom Line on Data Not Intuition”
Read MoreMarketplace changes and evolving customer demands are putting pressure on roll forming and building material manufacturers to make line of business changes. Moving into a different direction and offering other products and services might make sense for your business. On the other hand, there may be orders that shouldn’t be accepted or new products that …
Continue reading “Don’t Miss Projections, Maximize Production Lines”
Read MoreIn order to make smart, data-driven decisions, roll forming and building material manufacturers must have quick access to reliable financial and operational data. Understanding operational efficiencies is necessary for understanding the costs of material and labor, which are needed for accurate quotes and monitoring profit margins. Are your financials buried in disparate systems or entry-level …
Continue reading “Are Your Financials Buried or Front and Center”
Read MoreMetal distributors and fabricators who manage high-volume or unique inventory know it can quickly become expensive, putting the pressure on cash flow. In order to meet customer specifications and profit margins, you must be sure you are getting the best prices and that these items will eventually sell. Gain greater insight into inventory movement, strategize …
Continue reading “Strategize Procurement and Control Inventory Costs”
Read MoreBusinesses in the steel and metals industry have a difficult time finding management systems that support complicated operations. Traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions simply don’t have the features or functionality to address complex inventory management, streamline the quoting process or provide visibility into profitability or customer satisfaction. Struggling with inefficient legacy systems isn’t good …
Continue reading “Solving the Steel and Metals Industry’s Technology Challenges”
Read MoreSteel and metal manufacturers have complicated warehouse operations that can’t be managed efficiently with most enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions. Inventory control, labor, manufacturing processes and other day-to-day warehouse operations aren’t supported by many traditional business systems, leaving manufacturers with few options other than manual processes or inefficient, specialty software. Optimize processes with a warehouse …
Continue reading “Optimize Warehouse Processes with Modern Technology”
Read MoreBuilding material and metal stud manufacturers have no room for error when manufacturing steel studs, tracks, joists or other metal building materials. These materials must be produced in accordance with carefully defined client specifications and must meet the time and cost guidelines specified in the quote. Getting it wrong can impact an important building project, …
Continue reading “Build Stronger Walls With Stronger Technology”
Read MoreThere are many businesses in a variety of industry sectors that have found success with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution. However, it’s often a struggle to find an ERP solution for the steel and metals industry that can address the unique operations in this sector. ERP can manage many common business processes including financials, …
Continue reading “ERP Isn’t the Right Technology for Steel Manufacturers and Steel Service Centers”
Read MoreSteel manufacturers and steel service centers invest a lot of money in inventory, which means little can go to waste. Accurate tracking of inventory, yield and scrap, and parent-child traceability is necessary for satisfying customer needs, as well as protecting profit margins. In addition to vast quantities of inventory scattered throughout warehouses and distribution centers, …
Continue reading “Build a Strong Business By Strengthening Inventory Control”
Read MorePreparing sales quotes for customers is challenging in the steel and metals industry. An assortment of variables goes into preparing a quote including material, labor costs, overhead and outside processing costs. Businesses can’t trust these estimates to calculators, hand-crafted spreadsheets or software built for other types of businesses. Streamline the quoting process and improve accuracy …
Continue reading “Streamline the Sales Quoting Process with RealSTEEL”
Read MoreThe warehouse can be a chaotic place, especially for businesses in the steel and metals industry. Vast volumes of inventory, multiple stock locations, and constant movement of incoming and outgoing inventory keeps your team scrambling. All this movement can lead to mistakes in fulfillment and shipping, which can lead to frustrated customers and weakened profits. …
Continue reading “Improve Productivity and Control Chaos in the Warehouse”
Read MoreSupply chains in nearly any industry, including the steel and metals industry, are under pressure and weakening. However, the problem may not be what you may expect. An increase in customer expectations—namely faster, more accurate service—is challenging businesses and many simply can’t keep up. Poor technology, manual practices and outdated information prevent businesses from meeting …
Continue reading “The Unexpected Reason Supply Chains Are Weakening”
Read MoreBehind the scenes, you have to determine whether you have the right materials in stock and how to estimate scrap or remnants. Getting it wrong can be a costly mistake. Steel service centers have evolved over time, offering more value-added services to customers. Many businesses aren’t just slitting or cutting, they are providing a variety …
Continue reading “Innovation and Technology: Not Exclusive to Large Steel Enterprises”
Read MoreSteel service centers and manufacturers maintain a variety of inventory that is nearly impossible to manage by manual means. Calculating inventory forecasts with pen and paper is another time-consuming task, which can easily lead to stock-outs or needless overstocking. Don’t risk your bottom line to poor calculations; trust that you maintain the inventory your customers …
Continue reading “Inventory Management Can Make or Break Your Bottom Line”
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