True clarity comes from directly engaging with the shop floor, where value creation coexists with real challenges. I recently visited a very large and complex manufacturing operation struggling to produce enough material to meet demand. On paper, there seemed little room left for improvement.... Continue Reading
In today’s litigious business climate, it’s critically important for a heat treating company to include the Metal Treating Institute’s Statement of Limited Liability in your terms and conditions. MTI’s Statement of Limited Liability is a long-standing copyrighted... Continue Reading
The modern supply chain faces constant upheaval. Geopolitical tensions, resource scarcity, and climate events are the new normal. Moving beyond reactive measures, forward-thinking leaders must embrace uncertainty as an opportunity. What began as pandemic-related “temporary”... Continue Reading
Some say negotiation is an art. But often it feels like spiritual erosion. What should be a simple matter of mutual agreement instead dissolves into a maddeningly performative exchange where no one says what they mean and everyone suspects they’re being cheated. And the worst part?... Continue Reading
Leaders must be proactive in ensuring they don’t get over-extended and over-exhausted, writes Kathy Oneto, who offers five ways to guard your well-being. The alarm rings at 5 a.m. You jump out of bed to squeeze in a workout before your first meeting at 7. By noon, you’ve... Continue Reading
The House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which includes crucial pro-manufacturing provisions that the NAM has long advocated.The NAM says: “This pro-growth legislation preserves crucial tax policies that will enable manufacturers to create jobs,... Continue Reading
3 ideas for reframing today’s narrative to inspire and engage young people One of the more troubling challenges leaders face today isn’t just organizational—it’s generational. Too many young professionals, fresh out of school, carry with them a pervasive sense of... Continue Reading
From soft landing to stagflation, global supply chains are feeling the strain. The early months of 2025 have been a rude awakening for business leaders hoping for a smooth economic environment. In Q1, U.S. gross domestic product contracted by 0.3%, which is an early decisive downturn but not... Continue Reading
There are practical limits to the technology, related to the difference between explicit and tacit (or implicit) knowledge. Recently at Phoenix airport, I hopped into a taxi and, as driverless ride-hailing services moved alongside us on the highway, the driver asked me what I thought about the... Continue Reading
The Metal Treating Institute’s (MTI) highly anticipated 2025 Spring Meeting took place this month on May 5–7 at the stunning Royal Sonesta San Juan Resort in Puerto Rico. Members who attended share it was great to get away from the daily grind to refresh their ideas, perspective,... Continue Reading
Get ready to tee off at one of the most anticipated events in the heat treating industry! The Metal Treating Institute (MTI) is thrilled to invite Members to the 2025 Midwest Golf Tournament & Dinner, taking place on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, at the picturesque Geneva National Golf Club in... Continue Reading
I’m pretty certain there is no such thing as a neutral human interaction. Every time, every single time, we interact with another human being, we leave them feeling either better about themselves or worse. They do the same for, or to, us. Sometimes it’s a lot better or a lot worse,... Continue Reading
