For heat-treating companies, business insurance is far too important to address at the last minute. With the cost of property, equipment, labor, litigation, cyber incidents, and business interruptions continuing to rise, companies should begin reviewing their insurance coverage and requesting... Continue Reading
The latest ITR Economics forecasts present contrasting outlooks for two markets that significantly influence demand for heat treating: North American light vehicle production and U.S. heavy-duty truck production. Although ITR currently places both markets in Phase A, Recovery, their projected... Continue Reading
The performance of a heat-treating operation depends on more than the furnace itself. The components, fixtures, materials, and supporting technologies used inside the furnace can directly affect energy consumption, cycle times, load capacity, part quality, distortion, and operating costs. The... Continue Reading
Choosing healthy ways to meet your needs while on the job. We’re frequently expected to adapt to changes at work. These could be changes in policy, work group configuration, the organizational hierarchy, or job duties. Underlying our responses to change is the issue of how we will get... Continue Reading
BambooHR CEO Brad Rencher and leadership author Simon Sinek explained at the annual SHRM conference why HR requires redesigning work, not just adding AI. One of the biggest ironies you’ll find in modern workplaces today is that organizations have more tools and data than ever, yet... Continue Reading
Labor shortages, rising customer expectations, and the need for greater process consistency are pushing heat treaters to explore new approaches to automation. The Automation and Robotics Track at Furnaces North America 2026 will give attendees practical insight into how artificial intelligence,... Continue Reading
In heat treating, quality and profitability are directly connected to how well you control the process. FNA 2026 has 10 educational tracks over two days. The Process Control & Quality Track on October 13 at Furnaces North America 2026 will give attendees practical insight into improving... Continue Reading
In heat treating, lead time is much more than a number you give a customer when they place an order. It is a reflection of how effectively your operation is running. Lead times touch nearly every part of the business: scheduling, labor utilization, equipment capacity, work-in-process, throughput,... Continue Reading
Very often, employees know what needs to be done, but feel the system is fighting them. When Paul Fitts stepped into the cockpit of a fighter jet at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, he wasn’t dressed for flight. No helmet, no parachute. Just a notebook, a pencil and an... Continue Reading
In today’s business environment, one of the biggest mistakes a leader can make is waiting until an economic shift shows up in their sales numbers before reacting. By then, the shift has already happened. That is why MTI’s Quarterly Economic Forecast Webcast with ITR Economics has... Continue Reading
The heat treating industry is changing quickly. Customers are demanding better performance, tighter specifications, greater consistency, lower costs, and more sustainable processes. Meeting those expectations isn't just about having better furnaces. It also requires understanding what is... Continue Reading
Artificial Intelligence is no longer something coming in the future. It is already changing how companies operate, make decisions, serve customers, develop employees, and compete. The challenge for business leaders isn’t deciding whether AI will impact their company. It’s... Continue Reading
